nana

Colin's aunt Mary came home this weekend and Colin had a great time playing with "Nana" as he calls her. She thinks its a grandma's name but Colin lovingly calls her Nana (since she would chase him around going "nana nana nana") and has since wandered around looking for nana.

Birthday present

Last week I celebrated my 28th birthday and here is Colin helping my mom make me brownies. Colin was so excited to eat the brownies the next day that he woke up at 4am on my birthday but I got to sleep in while Brent got up with him. What a great gift! but Colin was waiting at the bottom of the stairs for me when I woke up and dragged me running into the kitchen where they had balloons and especially a Thomas birthday balloon! Colin was so excited. I think he thought the Thomas balloon was for him not FROM him.

proof

Since we posted that Colin learned how to crawl out of his crib it seemed like he didn't want to anymore. So we put away the bed railing and decided not to convert his crib into a toddler bed yet since the crib contained him (at least for the moment) But this week he has decided instead to climb out at any possible moment. He likes to play in his crib with all his stuffed animals - mostly his aunt Mary's animals but he calls them his "ahlo ahlo's". And if he notices one missing now he just swings down off the crib and goes and gets it. He used to ask me to go get the missing animal. He also wakes up now and just climbs out instead of calling for mama......so the toddler bed might be coming out this weekend. We are having a hard time figuring out how to keep him in his room since the door sometimes doesn't catch the latch, and if he can swing over his crib like this, think of what he does to a smaller gate! It is keeping me up at night worried about him wandering down the stairs but we've made sure to really close the door and have one of those safety door knob things that are usually more trouble than they are worth. It seems to help (although our smart boy has figured out those too - at least a few times and I heard him yesterday morning going "uh-oh" since he was half asleep and couldn't remember his trick to it I guess since he couldn't get the door opened)

Here he is swinging his legs over and in a few seconds - before you can usually blink - he is like this

Whooo....whoooo

So one of Colin's favorite things right now is trains. Many mornings Colin will ask for his "woo woo" (aka Thomas the train) video to watch as he's waking up. When we heard about this yearly train show that goes on in Hampton, we knew right away that Colin wouldn't want to miss it. It was pretty amazing with tons of model trains set up. Hours and lots of money went into these collections that we certainly enjoyed looking at. Colin loved it when the trains went into a tunnel and then came back out. We have since made makeshift tunnels out of pillows for his trains to go in and out.

As a kid growing up, I had always thought having a train set would be so much fun. Especially being able to put it up around a Christmas tree. So for me this was a fun idea too. We heard there was a big train kids could ride, as well as hundreds of Thomas trains that kids could play with. What a deal! So we spent a few hours there and of course Colin loved it. He was probably overwhelmed by all the trains, but at least it kept his attention! He got to pull the whistle in a little train setup, as well as push buttons to make another train go forwards and backwards. It was really cool. Colin was too small the ride the kiddie train but there was an area where he could play with over 100 Thomas trains. He would put all the trains back on the track that other kids derailed. There was a common "Thomas the train" theme to most of the toys there, so we hoped Colin didn't feel left out as almost every other kid there had a Thomas shirt on! So we bought him a Thomas whistle which he proudly blew.... and blew..... and blew.. on the ride home. It was perfect - combines his love for music and trains all in one! He's building up his lungs each time he makes it whistles and he's so proud of himself. Its also much quieter than his cymbals which the whole family enjoys.

Green and Gold!

So I know its a week late, but better than never! Last weekend was a very proud moment for this GMU Grad. Seven of us made the trek (okay only 3 of you really had to travel) to Norfolk to experience the great George Mason basketball team play ODU. Now, the overall outcome was very dissapointing as GMU lost (they haven't beaten ODU at the T.E.D since '04), but I couldn't have been prouder to be part of a school that really treats their alumni well.

For $10 a person we got a ticket in club seating (face value $13) with about 40 other GMU fans, and a all-u-can-eat (that phrase invokes much joy to my heart) food bar with chicken fingers, hotdogs, and chips. Also all the soda you want. Then at half time they had 3 drawings to win a few t-shirts and an autographed jersey by the head coach! We also were given a 2008 GMU calendar, a GMU alumni pen, and a alumni car sticker! So the $10 we paid per person wasn't even as much as the face value of the ticket seats we had! Unbelievable.... I might even give to the alumni association after being treated like that! Maybe thats what they were thinking... ha

So Mason's two top players played very well, but the rest of the team didn't. They ended up loosing by like 13, but Regis and I were keeping score of another statistic in which GMU won hands down. GMU had 5 dunks to ODU's ZERO!!!!! YEA!!! It's the small victories that count in life.The rest of the weekend was a blast as well as we walked around VA Beach and ended up at an unforgetable mexican restaurant that i'm sure we'll all talk about for years to come.

dah-ta dah-ta da ta da-ta da

As you know, Colin loves marching bands and even leads his own. He loves to march around the house with some sort of stick and go "dah-ta dah-ta da ta da-ta da" He is always the band director as he has his stick out in front and moves it like they do in parades. He watches marching bands on the computer and memorizes all their moves. He makes everyone follow after him but his favorite thing is to march outside. Outside there are millions of sticks he can use and he is even allowed to drum the sticks on just about everything. He will even stop halfway, raise his stick in the air and yell "Rahrah" and then change directions. Only everyone else marching with him has to do the same. And everyone who comes over and goes outside with him is asked to march around. He is also very specific on which end of the stick you hold and always shows me the correct way to hold my stick of the day. (I love the picture above showing his little mohawk. He had rather crazy hair this day. Someone asked me the other day if I cut his hair like that! haha nope but its so cute in the humidity it curls up into the cutest curls right into a perfect little mohawk)

Guess what I can do!

A week ago exactly Colin surprised us all with his amazing athletic abilities yet again. It was 6am and Brent had just left for work as I heard Colin waking up. A few minutes later he got quiet and I thought he put himself back to sleep only to have him WALK into my room. He had climbed out of his crib, opened his door and then my door, and walked right in with the proudest smile on his face. Now he sleeps at night with a sleeper blanket (its a blanket that we zip him up in so he stays nice and warm as he likes to kick all the blankets off); so I should really say he shuffled in (imagine Sweet Pea). I couldn't figure out how he did it but the next day after he woke up from his nap, he met me on the stairs after I heard him from downstairs! Very scary. He's fast. So I immediately put him back in and told him to show me how he did it. He listened and did it for me. I wish I had a camera to capture his face as he was incredibly proud of himself and his new found independence. He uses the headboard on either side since it is higher than the railings, almost jumps up and grabs it, then swings his whole body over the side of the crib railing and then flops down to the ground. Very strong for a little boy and very scary for his mommy. We were going to transition him into his toddler bed but waited a few days and he hasn't tried to climb out again. We are now ready as I went and bought bed railings so he won't fall out of the bed. He is a very active sleeper and doesn't stay in one place very long. We are trying not to make a big deal about it so he doesn't think this is something you do all the time. However, we would like to get a video of him flinging his little body over the side of the crib before we move him into his toddler bed!

What do you like?

This afternoon Colin and I were having a conversation about things we liked and I would ask him something and it would either be a yes or no. Then I asked him what Grandma liked and he said Grandpa! (well he didn't say it - he makes a "grandpa" face where he scrunches up his eyes and nose... its really funny and part of me hopes he doesn't outgrow it for a while. It is a little frustrating for him when he is trying to get grandpa's attention and he just makes his face which grandpa can't see sometimes!) But anyways Grandma likes Grandpa. True statement and very cute. SO then I asked him what did Grandpa like and Colin said Fish! haha Grandma likes Grandpa but Grandpa likes fish! He repeated it again for everyone at dinner :)

So cute. And to further brag on our little boy. He is a genius! I know most people say that about their kids but yesterday we were making brownies and I was putting the eggs in and counted 1...2... and before I could say three Colin says what sounds like teeee! (mommy translation = 3) Proof - Colin is a genius!

One more cute story - last night Colin got up at an insane hour - 3:30 - and I brought him in bed with us and he went right to sleep. After a while when I am about to take him back to his own bed, his arm shoots up and he yells BALL and pretends to bounce a basketball! The whole time sound asleep.

I think we can count on those scholarships - both for brains and his wonderful athleticism!

Winter wonderland

It finally snowed! Colin wasn't sure about it at first and kept going uh-oh when we made a snowman and then knocked it down. Apparently when I was Colin's age my parents bundled me and my sister up, took us outside and we cried the whole time. So the first night wasn't a surprise when Colin didn't really like the snow. But the next day he decided the snow was fun and even helped brent put the snowman back together! He didnt think the snowman needed a carrot nose and would eat all the carrots we brought out. Guess we shouldve given him lunch first. Colin ended up loving the snow and here are a few pictures of our snow adventures!

Our Little Man

Colin has developed a love for cereal. And not just any cereal - a mixture of Muselix and Granola. You have to mix them. He insists!! He usually has a few bowls by the time breakfast is over as he likes to share with grandma, mama and his own bowl. He starts with a bowl from mama, then grandma comes down and pours herself a bowl, then he wants his own and then finally dada comes and eats some too! I personally am getting a little tired of this combination. But not Colin! This results in some very interesting diaper changes a few hours later. But along with the cereal every morning he also likes to read the morning paper. He just looks at the pictures but he is such a genius we wouldn't be surprised if he is actually reading the stock reports for future use!

DADDY!

The other day my mom and I took Colin to the Mariners Museum. Its is a really cool museum and they just added a new wing dedicated to the Monitor. They even have actual pieces of the ship on display and a reproduction of the entire ship. It was amazing to walk out on it and realize how big it was. Colin of course found the only puddle and spent some time splashing away. We didn't get to read/watch much since Colin just wanted to see it all at a much faster pace. One day we're going to go back and read everything and watch all the movies. (the coolest ones were on the monitor - when it sank and also the Battle of the Ironclads! Definitely worth the money to go see!) But the funniest moment was when we passed this statue. There were so many all over the museum but Colin walked by, pointed to it and yelled "Dada!" and then kept walking. My mom and I burst out laughing and then on our way out Colin did it again and we just had to get a picture of "Dada." We aren't sure why but it apparently reminded Colin of Brent. So here's to Dada :)

Being a Dad

So it's been a long time since I've made a post. Truth is I think Abigail does a great job keeping up on all Colin does. She also takes more pictures than me, more video's, and let's face it... see's him more than me. Being a dad is THE greatest joy in life next to experiencing God. It doesn't matter what my day is like at work, but when I come home, Colin is there. I walk through the door (unless he meets me at my truck; which is often) and I yell "HELLO!" I wait for a few brief moments knowing that my little boy, with a huge smile on his face, will come high stepping around the corner of the hallway, and run full steam ahead into my arms. There IS no greater feeling than that. And that is just the beginning. I usually get home around 5:30 or 6pm and then have a little time to play with him before dinner. He loves trains and also instruments that make ANY noise. He usually grabs Abigail/grandma/any aunt's around/ and myself and we carry tambourines, cymbals, and a triangle around the house making horrific loud noises that somehow sound beautiful to Colin!

One of my favorite things to do with Colin is drive the R/C car I got for Christmas around the house with Colin following after me. Many times when I arrive home from work, he will pull me by the shirt, and take me to the remote control where he will look at me with his little eyes sternly and say "da" which is a universal word he uses to mean just about everything. In this case it means, "let's go daddy, take this and we are going to play." I grab the remote control and he grabs his pushable cart/toy/thingy with wheels on it. I chase him around the house with the car as he runs faster and faster in circles. Eventually one of us will turn and go in the opposite direction and crash into each other!

Being a dad is such a joy because you realize you are helping mold this little person into who they will become. As a Christian I want to instill values and morals of Godly character. Colin is beginning to get to the age where I can teach him more things and tell him right from wrong, but mostly its just about loving him and spending time with him. Helping him feel loved and giving him security. I want him to know that he can always goto dad and I will help him with whatever he is facing. At this point, its kissing his bo-boo's, looking for lost toys, and helping him up and down stairs! I'll take what I can get for now! I know I will be in over my head when he gets older and life becomes more complicated. For right now, I try not to take any day for granted and just spend as much time as possible with him. I'm not going to lie, I am very selfish and often want to do my own thing when coming home from work, but in reality its not hard to spend all your free time with God's most beautiful creation.... our kids.

Living museum

Yesterday I took Colin to the Virginia Living Museum. It has changed a lot since the days of boring school field trips year after year. It wouldnt have been so boring but they took us to the same thing each year in middle school. But now they have added an enormous new wing and its so much better. It was a beautiful day - 69 and sunny! We spent a lot of time watching the beavers, the bobcat (MEOW! MEOW! as Colin kept saying), and the turkeys (gobble Gobble gobble) There was one turkey that kept talking to Colin. Makes me wish I knew what BOTH of them were saying. Colin kept making turkey sounds and the turkey would answer back. All the fish were really cool too and Colin loved the touch tank where he could touch horse shoe crabs and different fish.

(Dont worry... the snake is fake)

Football

Colin was practicing his "touchdown!" the day before the hokies bowl game but unfortunately he woke up the next day to disbelief when he realized his beloved hokies lost. And to add to that the Redskins lost their playoff game too. It was not a good week for football but Colin is already ready for next year and keeps practicing his "go go go" and "touchdown!" sayings (what he says when watching football) in anticipation of many wins in 2008.

Little Drummer Boy

Colin is very musically talented already. Angela noticed when he was a few months old that he could feel the beat in music and since then his love for instruments and music keeps growing. His new thing is to watch the Highty Tighties on YouTube and pump his arms up and down with the music. He has also discovered that pot lids make great cymbals and after a few weeks of that noise I went and bought him his own set of cymbals to save our sanity. (And also the pots) The cymbals are much quieter. He loves to march around the house and high step it and makes sure anyone who wants to participate gets to join in the fun. (or who he thinks wants to participate. On Christmas day he made Angela and Sarah march around the house many times. Mary is his favorite to march with and he always tries to get her to play the game with him. And usually she willingly does! What a great aunt! As you can see in this picture, Mary is a little tired of watching the same video for the 100th time that day! But Colin is just as excited as the first time)

Christmas in DC

This past weekend we went to visit Grandpa Goedecke (aka Pops) and spent some time in DC taking Colin around to a few of the tourist sites. We first went to see the national tree only Colin wasn't too impressed since it was daylight and the lights weren't on. Uh-OH was the word he kept saying. We then took Colin over to the WWII memorial and spent the whole time keeping Colin from climbing into the fountains. He loved it and really didn't understand why Mommy wouldnt let him splash in the water. (the other day we went to the playground and splashed in all the puddles - Colin and I had a great time but I'm afraid he now thinks any standing water is for him to splash in)

We then went to the Air and Space museum to look at all the airplanes. As you can see he loved driving the airplane! We met a friend Mike for dinner and then went home to open some Christmas presents. And thats when our wonderful weekend took a downhill. Colin opened a present and then puked up his dinner and spent the rest of the night with the flu. The only way he slept was if I held him so no one got any sleep. The poor thing was so sick and had no clue what was going on. We came home early after meeting a friend for breakfast and while Colin has bounced back very quickly, he passed the wonderful flu onto Momma and Aunt Mary. Brent deserved the father/husband of the year as he has taken care of both of us and praise the Lord for his strong stomach as I get queasy with anything flu related. We are so glad we're still living with my parents as they have helped tremendously with Colin so Brent can take care of me and my parents can watch Colin. As I'm writing this I have only seen Colin for a minute today! I miss my little boy and pray that all of us are feeling much better tomorrow. Happy New Year! Hopefully this isnt an indication of what the year will bring.

Christmas day

We had a wonderful Christmas. Colin woke up super early (as usual) and couldn't understand for a while why he had to be quiet since he knew his aunts (sarah and mary) were home. My brother (Ensign Gouger now!) and Angela came over later in the afternoon as well as Grandma and Hoooowwwward (as Colin calls his great grandpa) And angela and James brought their dog AJ! Notice the picture on the right as Colin proudly waves his daddy's Redskin flags with sheer jubilee! His dad said he is always going to remind him where his loyalties lie! His Redskins look (hope) to be playoff bound after this weekend.



It was a day filled with fun and lots of presents. Colin got his train (wooo woooo) and now has to carry it around everywhere. Mary gave him a Thomas dvd so now we watch Thomas all the time. In fact, Colin dreamed of trains that night. He had a hard time sleeping - probably due to all the excitement of the day. But as we're rocking in the glider in his room, I hear him begin to talk in his sleep. At first I thought he had woken up since I had just gotten him back to sleep. But he begins to go - "wooo wooo" - and then "i don't know" followed by an "uh oh" (in the Thomas video a train goes off the track and Colin always goes uh oh) I wish I knew what he was dreaming! Colin also got this huge dump truck. He is really into trucks and the funny thing is that right after he opens the truck, he starts driving it all over the house, but had to first make a pit stop in the living room. There he opens his truck book Santa brought him, flips through it and then proceeds on his way. I guess he had to make sure he was driving the truck right!

Merry Christmas

candy!!!!

Notice a theme here? We learned for next year to put the gingerbread house together first before getting the candy and Colin together. That way next year he hopefully won't eat as much candy. But he LOVED it and our house is still standing (for the moment)