Sco-goo Diver

Colin loves to put this mask on and "swim" through the grass like a "sco-goo diver" and find all sorts of fish and different things underwater. I love to just sit and watch.

We spent a very busy memorial weekend getting most of the things crossed off our To Do Before the Baby Comes List. We still have a few things on the list that we want to get done soon but they weren't at the top so we feel like we're a little ahead right now. And we got our new computer. Very exciting. Colin and Brent also went to the pool Monday and Colin loved it of course. I also got this sprinkler ball thing to entertain colin and also keep me cool for the next few weeks and Colin loved it.And speaking of baby - he is head down and running out of room :) The other day Colin walked into the room carrying his doctors kit, opened the kit, took out his scissors and said in a very loud voice "Its time to get the baby out now!" And started coming toward my stomach with the scissors. "Dr. Colin" was going to make the hole. A little scary and funny too! Colin is very ready for this baby and is so sweet. He talks to his brother all the time and makes sure the baby likes what we're doing and tries to make the baby laugh. And when we're in the car driving and he sees something interesting I hear Colin yell "do you see that baby?" I hope that the baby will still be as exciting to him when he really does come out.

strawberry hunting

Last weekend we went Strawberry hunting as Colin called it. My sister Mary came over to finish painting the baby's room and to go strawberry picking. This year he LOVED it. And the bigger the better. He picked the biggest strawberry I've ever seen and then accidently dropped it and stepped on it in his attempt to pick it back up - he still talks about that big strawbery... But it was a great time to go - not too hot, a great wind and we managed to do it between the rain storms we had Saturday. The place we went to was great. The owner came out and told us to taste all the different rows since there were different types and then took us to the best place to pick them. we will definitely go back to this one. I mean when the owner tells you the best way to pick the berries is one for your mouth, one for your basket you know you're in the right place! He might have been joking but Colin took him to heart and so did I! Brent and I first went 5 years ago with our good friends Mark and Leah and picked so much we made strawberry jam. Yummy! And we thought about making some this year but Colin is always asking for smoothies so we froze the ripest and juiciest and they do make good smoothies. We've also eaten strawberry shortcake almost every night this week. Sadly the strawberries are almost gone but since its less than a 20 minute drive Brent is talking about going back this weekend. We will see how it goes.Brent picks only the perfect strawberiesSaturday morning I found this at a yard sale. Colin loved it and calls it his Caterpillar. And one day when he's older he told me he wants to drive a real big CAT truck. I love the fact that it has pedals so he wears himself out trying to pedal it. His legs aren't quite long enough but he tries so hard. The other day we took it to the lake to feed the ducks. It was a long way back for us since I ended up pushing him back most of the wayWith Nana climbing. Colin LOVES his Nana. Nana and Ant Ant (my sisters) are two of his favorite people. Colin climbs this tree all the time and calls himself climb guy when he's doing it. He gets really far and scares me sometimes with how high he gets. Mary used to climb the same type of tree in my parents front yard when she was this age.

hiccups and potty training

Colin does pretty well right now using the potty - he just won't poop on the potty. "next time mommy" is what he always says. Today he informed me matter of factly (is factly even a word?) that the reason I get the hiccups so much is because I poop on the potty. "mommy its not healthy to poop on potty" he told me. "poop in your diaper like me - no get the hiccups" So just when I think we're getting so close to being out of diapers he tells me this. But I always get the hiccups so if he's convinced that pooping in the potty is what causes it we may have a long wait until we're pull-/diaper free. I'm pretty sure since he wants to be a big boy so much and in fact keeps calling himself Colin big boy (big boy is his last name mostly) that once the baby comes he'll start using the potty since babies use diapers.In baby news we found the hospital. Its very easy to get to. Only not the 5 minute drive like we had with Colin. Brent's so excited because its near the trader joe's that just opened up in VB. I think I'll still go to the one in Newport News though since this one was out of everything we like and apparently a truck comes every night to stock it. So since the whole city is going to this one we'll go back to our regular one. But the only reason we found the hospital last night was because Brent wanted to check out the Trader Joe's store. I'm pretty sure while i'm in the hospital Brent will make a run to get his favorite snacks. Colin was so disappointed that we didn't get the baby last night. "baby why you no come out?" is what he kept saying to the baby and patting my tummy. His latest thing is to tickle my tummy because he wants to tickle his little brother. He did get a little jealous this week when my sister came to paint the baby's room. Baby room no need paint. Just fine. nana play with me - no paint baby's room. But then he got to help paint and we told him how only big boys get to paint and that made him feel special. Then he started singing a song he made up "me love baby ...." and later during his nap time he called me in and said "me want to snuggle with baby brother" and put his head on my stomach and went to sleep. He has moved himself into the baby's room. All his toys are on the changing table and thats become his jungle gym. And he calls it his fire station and keeps his fire trucks in the room. So we'll have to work on that. On june 16th they are going to do an ultrasound to see how big the baby is and if my cervix is ready they will go ahead and induce. If not then we can choose to be induced at 39 weeks. Its coming very fast. I'm excited to see an ultrasound at 37 weeks. A little nervous that its a month away! But according to Colin it can't get here too soon.
Last night Brent kept tossing and turning in his sleep and mumbling something about weeding. haha! Here is Colin trying out his garden hoe. Looks like he and Brent will have some work to do today from what Brent was thinking all night!

Busy busy day

Saturday was a busy busy day according to Colin (and the rest of us). We went in the morning to see my sister in law graduate with her Masters. She graduated from Regent which is a very pretty campus. It was great to see James and Angela even for just a little while on Saturday. The graduation was outside and very laid back as tons of kids and especially Colin played out by the fountain for most of it. I enjoyed listening to the speakers and enjoyed it until the sun came out in full force. Then it got VERY hot and I got really sick and was so afraid I was going to pass out or get sick to my stomach so we left as soon as we saw Angela walk out. I'm going to have to be careful not to be outside too much this summer until the baby is born. Its funny how Colin didn't have a meltdown the whole day but his mommy sure did that morning. Then we all came to our house to celebrate Colin's birthday. He was so excited about his firetruck cake that he kept opening the fridge and "just a taste mommy" so we decided to start with the cake so there would be some left. It turned out good. I have problems with cakes but thanks to Sarah it looked like a real firetruck. She came over Friday night and decorated the cake. Thank you Sarah. And we played pin the hat on the fireman. Colin got into "helping" everyone and thought it would be funny to steer everyone wrong! But that night he remembered where everyone put their hat. So there must have been a method to his strategy. Rod won and got it perfect (Colin also got the hat on the right place but I'm pretty sure he was cheating!)Rod and Debbie were so great to come too even though right after they were having a big party at their house for Angela. So right afterwards we went and ate yummy food and played at their house the rest of the afternoon. Colin loves Lizzie and likes to feed her and also play with her. They like to chase each other around. The Burley's gave Colin his own digital camera for his birthday and Colin has been taking tons of pictures but his favorite to show me is the one of Lizzie. We'll have to put up the pictures he's been taking. He's getting quite good. Aren't these curly haired boys so cute. They had fun playing together and did very well even though they were both sleepy and Benjamin had been to his aunt's graduation too that morning at another school.

We were all asleep I think within minutes of being home that night. Colin told me "busy busy day mommy but everybody made me SO happy. Me LOVED me party day" So thank you everyone for making our little boy feel so special. I know it made for a longer day for everyone but he hasn't stopped talking about it. Thank you!

This morning I overheard Colin talking to his blankie and telling him "Jesus made you a-ha-ha-ha (his name for his blankie) and Jesus loves you too and He's my friend and when He comes to play I'm going to give him a real big hug.

Colin has been asking for weeks now "mommy who made me" and really wanted to know but had a hard time grasping that God made him - he usually said No mommy made me. But I think he finally got it. And it was very sweet that he wanted his blankie to understand too.

Birthday - round 1

Colin how old are you now?

EIGHT!!!!!

Yes he thinks he's 8 and will get very frustrated and upset when you tell him he's now three. He does know how to count to five but he likes saying 8 and so he's 8. We'll work on that later but for now let him think he's 8.

He had a wonderful birthday. Lots of family members called to sing him happy birthday and at one point he asked me "mommy why they sing hupppy birfffday to me?" "Why is it me birffday?" Who made it me birfffday?" "Why today?" he really wanted to know and what finally satisfied him was that it was the day he made a hole and came out of my tummy like his baby brother will. But he is still skeptical. But he did enjoy all the birthday things we had planned for him. He also thought santa brought presents since Santa brings presents on Jesus' birthday. And we probably confused him by only having christmas wrapping paper in the house to wrap his presents. Oh well . Makes sense to me!Colin and I went to the Zoo in the morning with Jamie and Benjamin. Colin loved having Benjamin there and last night told Brent everything that Benjamin liked at the zoo. AND the rooster they have at the petting zoo cockadoodle dooed THREE times while Colin was there. He calls roosters Joey since he wants one (he got a stuffed one for his birthday which has satisfied him for now) but that was the highlight for him. In fact he cried the whole way home "Me go back and hear Joey cockadoodle doo ONE MORE TIME" Forget the exotic animals - he loves the rooster.Then because it was raining Brent got to come home early so he was there when Colin woke up from his nap and we had balloons and let him open his presents before making his favorite - spaghetti and meatballs for dinner. He LOVED that part :) Each time he opened a present he said "me really really wanted it" haha even if he didn't know what it was at first. We did get him one of those stuffed turtles that project the stars on the ceiling and last night he didn't have to sleep with the light on and had no trouble falling alseep. Just what we wanted. But after cake (I made him an icecream cake) we went and used his new fishing pole at the lake near our house. Nevermind that it was raining - since he also got an umbrella for his birthday he thought the rest of us should go too :)Round Two of Colin's birthday is Saturday after my sister-in-laws graduation and before her celebration party. It will be a busy day but Colin is very excited for his party day as we've been calling it. And we're excited to have the whole family in for even just a brief time.

What happened?

Can someone tell me what happened to this tiny little baby who fit like this...and now can only fit like this? (by the way he came up and wanted to snuggle with his little brother in this picture) Its gone so fast but we have loved every minute of it.

Happy 3rd Birthday Colin!

what's your name?

Today we went to join the Reading bus for story hour (*the Reading Bus is a converted school bus with a full classroom on it for Colin's age. It drives all over VB and has story hour, craft time and play time on it for the little kiddos. Its wonderful and we've had such a great time on it) But we got there and the bus was broken down so instead we went and played at the playground with another little girl and then Colin and I headed to the library so I could make a few copies. (our printer broke) We had to go to another library since ours is closed for renovations and ended up being able to join their story hour. At the beginning they sing a song and go around the room and insert each kids name in it and everyone sings the song to that kid, then they go around to the next kid, so everyone gets that special attention. The kids love it. When they got to Colin and asked his name he proudly said "COLIN BIG BOY!" so we all had to sing the song to Colin Big Boy! And if we call him anything but Colin or big boy he gets really insulted and is quick to correct you. And he is getting so big. Its hard to believe he will be 3 in a few days.

weekend away

This past weekend we went to Kill Devil Hills, NC to get away for a quick family vacation before we become a family of 4. (I know we live at the beach but we wanted to get away and see some other places) Brent took Monday off so Saturday morning we drove the hour and half down to the beach and went to Jockey's Ridge. (colin's personal favorite) The rest of the time we spent swimming in the hotel swimming pool, playing down at the beach, or watching dolphins! It was very relaxing and the perfect getaway for us. Colin scaling the mountain of sand. Brent was soon to follow. I took an easier route.There he goes. He kept repeating "I can do this. I can do this" the whole way up.I didn't realize the dunes were so tall. I had been once in 1st grade but hadn't realized how hard it would be for a 7 month pregnant woman! I did make it eventually everywhere colin and brent did - at a much slower pace - and after Brent took this picture he said "you dont really look pregnant from behind..."Colin and I at the top. Watching the hang gliders. Colin REALLY wanted to go hang gliding. He's a dare devil and I can just see him doing it and skydiving as soon as he's old enoughSliding was the fastest way down. We're still getting sand off Colin... Colin also slept for 12 straight hours that night and didnt move a muscle the whole time. Not our typical boy. Maybe we should go every day to Jockeys' Ridge :) Colin LOVED the pool. "me swimming. Me swimming" Can't wait until Memorial Day when our pool opens up. He and I will be there every day I think.

Chasing waves - or maybe here they are chasing him.

Watching dolphins. Can you see it?

Putt-putt was fun. Colin has gotten much better since last year when we went with our whole family. This course you rode a train up to the top before you played. That was the highlight for ColinColin's attitude about going home! haha he really is sad about being home and keeps asking to go back.This is what greeted us when we got back. (don't look at the ugly bushes next to the side of the house. Those are coming out this weekend)

Big boys do it!

First off for those family members who have commented on Colin's need for a haircut - this is as close as we got the other day. One ice cream cone doesn't keep him still long enough and there are still a few areas to trim shorter but he looks cute as always.

Our beautiful Azaleas. I have waited all winter for these to bloom and its been excited to see what color they all are. The whole front and side of our house are azaleas and this weekend will be in full bloom. And you can see our NEW WINDOWS! They came Saturday and it was so exciting. I can finally open windows. We haven't even opened them yet since the pollen count has been really high and Saturday Colin and I were very congested since all the windows were taken out and I'm still wiping down all the pollen that blew in. But very exciting. It makes all our windows seem bigger and lets more light in which is great!


And this is where I was told "Big boys do it" Colin and I walked down the street to one of the playgrounds today. He chooses which one he wants to go to as there are three within easy walking distance (one of the reasons we picked this house) but I looked up and Colin was trying to jump off that ledge. I told him he that it was too high and he said "but mommy big boys do it and me big boy" and then proceeded to drop. He did fine so I took out the camera from my bag and caught him doing it again. He was so proud of himself. Shouldn't be a surprise since he loves to jump and climb. He likes to jump off his little climber in the back yard - which is only a foot or two off the ground - and the whole time I have to say "everyone get ready for the best jumper in the world to jump" and then he jumps. And I have to do it over and over and he jumps over and over. Makes for great afternoons naps! We were at one of the other playgrounds this weekend and met another 3 year old in our neighborhood - very exciting - but he didn't want to do half of what Colin did on the playground. The other parent commented how we really do have a daredevil on our hands!

getting closer...

As some of you know, Brent now has to go to charlottesville Thursday and Friday for work which means he has to spend the night there Thursday. Its a blessing to have those accounts but each week I secretly pray that he'll lose those accounts and not have to go :) Well this Thursday night I was putting Colin to bed and thought woah this baby is really wanting to come out. Lately it seems he keeps pushing my stomach out wanting to make more room. A few minutes later I felt it again and then it registered. That wasn't the baby that was a contraction. I don't think you ever forget what those feel like. It didn't happen again so I put Colin to bed, went and drank some water and laid down. Then I started to freak out. Brent is out of town, my parents are gone this weekend on vacation, my grandparents are at the farm, Jamie is in New York, the Burleys are home and do I call them. How late do I wait? What if they aren't there? I don't even know where the hospital is!!!! Do I take Colin with me? Can my sister come from Richmond in time? I didn't really sleep that whole night. Well it didn't happen again and I finally figured out it was Braxton -Hicks which I didn't feel with Colin until a few weeks before he was born. They come at night probably only because during the day I am running after Colin. So no one got called and we didn't rush to the hospital - which is good since I don't know where it is. (haha many of you probably didn't know you were on my call list yet!) But the baby is fine. And I'm fine too - just a little tired from worrying all night! At 38 weeks they are going to induce if I've started dilating so hopefully everything I'm feeling is my body getting ready but we still have 9 weeks left possibly if they can induce so I'm hoping to keep this baby in until then. And this week I am going to register at the hospital and Brent and I are going to drive there so we both know where it is :) When I was pregnant with Colin my doctors office was in the hospital, and Brent was never more than 15 minutes away from me or the hospital. This time its completely different so being induced might actually be a blessing not only for an easier delivery but so Brent can be sure to be there! Here is my handsome boy. He is so much fun. I'm really enjoying our Thursdays alone since I try to plan fun things for us to do in the evenings and just making the most of our alone time together since once this baby comes it will all change. His new thing is asking "but how? or But Why?" for everything.

Easter

We had a wonderful Easter weekend. On Sunday we went to my parents church (if you remember from last year it was the one we started going to while we were living with my parents and they go there now) We had to leave our house at 7:00 am to make it over the tunnel in time :) but Waters Edge Church had their Easter Egg drop , or one of them, at 8:30am. It is all Colin talked about all year and was very excited to go see the helicopter drop eggs again. He loved collecting the eggs and didn't realize there was candy inside until much later. Colin didn't want to go into the kids church so he stayed with us and loved the music. (We really love Waters Edge Church and wish we lived closer but we have found a really great church near our house with an amazing children's program. And I love the mothers bible study!) But after church we went over to my grandparents house for brunch. My cousins and uncle showed up for part of it and Colin loved playing football with the boys. In fact he played football all day with anyone who would play with him (mainly ant ant) It was a beautiful day and we loved being able to spend it with so much family. These are all pictures my sister took since right as the helicopter came my batteries died. Thanks sarah!Last week we dyed easter eggs and Colin thought that was fun - each egg had to have some green in it. Only he cracked most of them in the process. I opened up one of the hard boiled eggs to show him what was inside and he saw the yellow yolk and goes "WOAH..... big butt!!!" haha he thought it was the baby chicken's butt and was SO disappointed when I finished peeling the whole egg and it was just a round yellow ball and no baby. I tried to explain that the eggs we buy to eat don't have baby chickens or ducks in them but I'm not sure it registered. He looked at the carton of eggs in the fridge and asked me later "babies in there mommy?"