Fuzzy...yet tasty!

The last couple of nights Collin has really taken a liking to reading his book. Some of his favoriate books are the touch and feel books. However....the past few days he is no longer interested in just feeling the fuzzy ears of the dog, or the furry tummy of the monkey. He now bends completely over at his waist and licks the fur on the page. Today Eric and I just watched him turn page after page and lick each and every "feeler".

Here are also a few pics from the past couple of days. Collin is now crawling and pulling up on everything....so one of his favorite things to get into is the refrigerator, surprise, surprise...he loves to eat!

Collin's feet are finally getting thinner! He can wear some shoes! This pair fits very well...it kind of rubs on his chunky little KANKLES, but he loves his little shoes.

Many NEW things...

The past two weeks Collin is quickly racking up his list of new things...

1. Last Saturday (March 1) I went to get Collin out of his crib and he was standing up in his crib looking at me. Then later that day after his nap he decided that he was not only going to stand up in his crib...but he thought he should taste it as well and put lovely teeth marks in his beautiful crib!

2. 2 new teeth are quickly yet slowly making their way up on top. The top left tooth and the side right tooth are slowly poking their way out. So little to say everything has found his way into Collin's mouth.

3. This past weekend we went to the park and Collin loved the swing, but was not so sure about the slide.

4. Last weekend Grandma Shelley and Aunt Missy came in town to visit. We spent Saturday afternoon down in Branson doing a little shopping...and of course Collin came home with so many new goodies!! Lucky little guy he is! But we of course had to stop and check out the Bob the Builder truck! Collin thought Bob was so much fun!

9 month Stats

Last Thursday we went to the doctor for Collin's 9 month checkup. Here is where he stands so far....
Weight: 22 1/2 pounds

Height: 28 1/2 inches

Overall Collin's checkup went wonderful! His tubes looked great and he looks to be growing just like a normal little dude! This week his top left tooth has almost made its way all the way out and now the left tooth is creating such a little problem. The poor little guy is in such pain and can't quite get enough in his mouth to help with the pain!

One other exciting news is Collin's new solution to crawling. This weekend we watched Oscar, my parents dog, and Collin has found that scooting around on his bottom is the best way to crawl. He will eventually army crawl on his stomach, but it takes a little reminding. Collin has gotten to be quite a quick moving on his rump and prefers this form of crawling over the other more "normal" style!

Communication is something Collin is really starting to get. He has such amazing body language and facial expressions but now he is understanding more things we say and is learning new ways to express his opinion. When asking Collin where his head is he is able to point to his head, even tonight he was playing with Eric's hat and I said that goes on your head, where is it? He was able to put it up to his head. Also, when asking Collin what a cow says most often he will moo! Now in terms of expressing himself he will still say the typical sounds of dada which can man Dada or Bye Bye, mama which can mean more or Mama, but he has learned the lovely form of whining. He truely learning how to express himself if he doesn't want something, like getting into his carseat!



Here is a list of Collin's TOP TEN Favorites in the last few months

10. Eating: as long as he can feed himself he is one happy guy
9. Touch and Feel Books or books in general
8. Monkey: Sleeping with his monkey has become a requirement! Especially having that monkey to snuggle with when he wakes up is essential!
7. Doors: Anything with a door like the gate door on his barn or the big door toy at school. Collin can sit and open and close this door forever....well at least for 5 minutes straight!
6. Lauging: Every morning on the way to school Collin sits in the back seat and says something to himself then laughs....waits for me to laugh back and then laughs again!
5. His Standing Table: Collin loves any toy he can stand and play at. He loves his little table toy he got for Christmas...it even has a little compartment with a door that Daddy often hides Cheerios in and he can open and close it!
4. OSCAR: Collin spent the entire weekend crawling all over the house in search to be able to "Pet" oscar...plus the minute he wakes up he says "d" and goes looking for the little guy.
3. Clapping: Collin loves to clap all day long at anytime of the day!
2. Water: Every morning after we get dressed I bring Collin into the bathroom and set him on the sink. We then brush our hair, brush our teeth and take any medicine we may need to take at the time...since usually we have something. Collin loves trying to lean ever so carefully over the sink and putting his hands in the sink...then once I turn the water on he immediately begins splashing.
1. HUGGING!! Collin's newest thing lately is putting his head down when you are holding him to get some extra loving right before he goes to bed. Though the last couple of nights when playing on the floor, I am usually laying there watching him play, he will crawl up to me and put his head down on my leg and give me a hug!

We're a MOVIN'!!!

Collin officially has two little friends at school, Ashton and Claire. Now both Ashton and Claire are about 11 months old and just in the past few weeks are both crawling. The three of them have become good play mates but now Collin is starting to get a little frustrated. They can all be playing oh so nicely and then the two crawl off to check something out and leave Collin behind. So I think this has given Collin the motivation he needed to put some effort into crawling!

Tonight Collin was laying on the floor in the family room and successfully scooted/army crawled over to me. Eric and I were so excited we instantly thought.....I bet he can move even easier on the hard wood. SO we brought Collin to the hard wood and there he went!
Then when we were getting ready for bath time, Eric was in the bathroom and Collin and I were in the bedroom. Collin could hear Daddy and I started to move him forward toward his daddy's voice. Collin then of coarse spotted the wall plugs and thought if I move myself I can get that. He had this little grin on his face like a light bulb had just clicked....."this moving thing may get me to some really cool things!!"

I have a feeling we will be spending our weekend baby proofing because I don't think it is going to be long before we have a mobile little man on our hands!

Here is a pic of Collin on the move...we got a video of it...but I can't figure out how to upload it!

Our third tooth

The last few days Collin has been a bit of a fussy gus. Now normally we are a happy little camper, but the last couple of days he has slept very little at school and by the time he gets home he is just about a mess! We realized on Sunday while I was feeding Collin breakfast that a little something was peeking out. His bottom two teeth are completely through and now the top left tooth is slowly on its way. You can see the hole and feel the edge of it, if only it will pop all the way out I think he will feel alot better. I am hoping that by the next week it will make its complete appearance.

Some New Things

Collin just continues to get more and more of a personality every day. He is quickly learning that there is so much to the world and he is going to do what he can to be a part of it all. However, Miss Mary at daycare said that "He is just such a nice little boy, very easy going. If there is something he wants and he can't reach it, no big deal! He will just find something else to play with." So yes he wants to be a part of the big boy world but is still not so into the work that must be put into it all, this is all just like the rolling over thing!!

However the other morning Eric was out in the back yard and Collin was dying to be doing what Daddy was doing. He sat at the window and just looked out, even tried to scale the door. This went on even after Eric was no longer out there. It soon became so much fun to just lick the window!!

Some of the newest excitement has to do with of coarse EATING! Which is Collin's favorite thing to do. He is now eating a few finger foods, however, it has taking quite a bit of practice to be able to pick things up, then gum them enough to eat them. But even though we haven't gotten the pincher method down we are getting better. This morning while home on a SNOW DAY, Collin enjoyed toast and peaches! He was shoveling this down like the poor kid had never eaten before, which we all knew is far from true.


Here is Collin looking so proud to be holding the spoon in his hand!

Also, Collin is learning to mimic his mommy and daddy. He has a play phone and this morning he kept picking it up holding it to his ear, then would pass it on to me. I guess this may be a bad sign down the road....hopefully he isn't beggin' for a cell phone when he is 12!

It's official....

Well I know about a month ago or so I commented that Collin pulled himself up on his drawers in his bedroom. However, today he proved to us that pulling up is his new trick. While playing in the family room and staring at the remore on the automon, he figured out how to rock himself forward and get enought momentum to push/pull himself up on the automon. Also, while I was cleaning out all the many clothes Collin continuously keeps out-growing, Eric and Collin were playing in the laundry basket in Collin's room. Collin just kept pulling himself up then plopping back down! Now if only we can get him to figure this whole crawling thing out!! We are getting close but that big ol' tummy is a lot to lift off the ground and move.

Rolling and Rolling and Rolling

This evening when we got home Eric, Collin and I were all on the floor playing. Now Collin has become very attached these days, but according to our parents as teachers lady, "This is just a phase, but it is a good thing!" So usually Collin insists either sitting on your lap to play or he must somehow be touching you. But tonight, we were practicing this whole "crawling" thing and he basically decided he was going to get from one place to another any way he can. He just began rolling and rolling, back to stomach, back to stomach. Then the next thing you knew he would be halfway across the room. This is a total change because so often he just lays on his back like a little Junebug moving his arms and legs back and forth, almost forgetting that he can just roll over!
Also, the last couple of days we have been practicing eating puffs to get the hang of feeding ourselves and to get down that whole gumming the food thing so we don't choke. Tonight at dinner Collin was acting as if he had never eaten before and after eating sweet potato and green beans we gave him some puffs because he kept wanting "MORE". It was so fun to just sit and watch his little gears turn as he concentrated so hard on picking up the puff, trying to accurately place it in his mouth, then work on gumming it enough to get it down his throat. Who ever knew that eating could be so much work!!!

The past few weeks

We are finally home, unpacked and trying to get ourselves all settled back in, thanks to the last two days of snow days!! The only thing we have left to do is finish taking down the Christmas decorations. Collin has had such an amazing last couple of weeks. Collin had his tubes put in Wednesday, December 23rd and everything went well. It was the quickest 10 minute procedure! By the time we sat back down in the waiting room they were already calling us to give us to tell us he was out of surgery. Dr. Alphin said he had an amazing amount of fluid pour out of his ears so there is no wonder why he was always in such pain! We just went back today for his checkup and he still has some "crustiness" on his left ear so we need to continue with more drops to help prevent future infections.

My Christmas Outfit

Collin's first Christmas was very calm and very uneventful. We spent Christmas Eve here at home, went to Christmas mass with my parents that afternoon then back to their house for dinner. Because it was just the three of us we decided we could open gifts when we wanted...so we let Collin open a gift or two that afternoon. Surprise Surprise...he loved the paper most of all!!

Christmas afternoon we left to head to Atlanta/St. John and Collin experienced his first plane ride. Thanks to the tubes, we had a very successful first plane ride. Collin loved looking out the window and playing with the window shade. St. John was an absolutely amazing family vacation. The house was on the beach, had a pool, an outdoor lanaui, and a huge family room/kitchen. Collin loved the pool. Dad had bought a floatie for Collin...little did he know that it was pink! The ocean was a bit scary for Collin, I think it was the sound of the waves, but once we were around it a few times, Collin loved to sit in the sand...and especially try to eat it!!

I had my own seat!! Wow it was HOT in St. Thomas Me and my pink floaty!

We were lucky to be off school/daycare for almost two weeks and by the end of vacation we officially have a napping/eating schedule. Collin is now taking a good 1 1/2 hour morning nap!! Then for the last two nights 1/7 Collin officially slept all the way through the night!! We are slowly beginning bits of food like banana, peaches and baby puffs.

The last big new thing for Collin these days is his desire to move!! He is getting so close to crawling. He has figured out how to get to where he wants by either scooting backward, rocking, or rolling over. I think he will the happiest little boy when he can actually crawl to where he wants to go. On top of crawling he is practicing pulling himself up. Just the other night I place him in the bath tub and he literally leaned over pulled himself up on the tub ledge and crawled his way out into my arms!! I guess he wasn't into the bath that night!

Bye Bye

Today after a very long weekend of Eric working call, when Eric finally got home this afternoon, Collin and I were sitting in the family room playing on the floor. As Eric peeped around the kitchen corner, Collin's eyes shot up to Eric and immediately started waving to his daddy. It was so cute to see how excited Collin was to see his daddy. He then continued to wave to him until Eric came over to him. We then packed up and headed out to Walmart where Collin continued to wave to everything and everyone throughout the store!

Tubes It Is

Today we went to the ENT and it is official! We are headed to get tubes next Wednesday. This is the best news ever!!! Basically Dr. Alfin said if we would have tried to fly his ear drums would have ruptured due to all the fluid and pressure he has. So I am very hopeful that this will allow Collin to finally be back to his happy self as well as he may start to get back to sleeping better!!

What's New

We have been so busy lately....and so has Collin! Collin is determined to move about as well as to be standing at all times. Last Thursday morning while Collin and I were getting ready for school, Collin was holding on for dear life to his dresser. As he was doing this he pulled himself up to a standing position. I couldn't really believe that he had successfully done this so, I sat him back down and he did it again! He was so proud of his accomplishment.

This weekend we also went to KC and spent the weekend with Kristin and Rick. Frankie was so excited to see Collin, he was such a good cousin always bringing Collin toys. We tried to get a picture of the boys, but as you can imagine getting three boys under the age of 4 to sit still you can only get so much!

After watching Sam run all around the house Collin is even more determined to get on the move. This week he has finally been able to get up on all fours and rocks back and forth. When placing Collin on a blanket, if you look away, the next thing you know he is completely off the blanket by successfully crawling backward!

Laundry Basket Fun!

After returning from our trip we had an overwhelming amount of laundry! Collin decided that he wanted to be a part of this experience....not so much as a helper....but as a distracter! Gotta love that a laundry basket is way more fun than the other many toys we have!

My First Thanksgiving

After packing just about everything in the house, Wednesday afternoon we were on our way to Ohio. We quickly learned that evening that traveling in the evening is not our best option. Even though Collin is a very good car rider, traveling for more than 5 hours is not advised! We even found that after 3 hours, a stretch break is definately mandatory!! We did stop in STL for a quick play session at Brian's, but by the time we got to the hotel the poor little guy was so confused by whether it was time to sleep or time to play. So after checking into the hotel, we then experienced the worst night yet! We were basically up the entire night with at the most 4 nonconsecutive hours of sleep! So to say the least we were a bit exhausted for Thanksgiving Day!

Once finally getting to Ohio, Collin was able to meet his cousins, Nate and Emily and many other great aunts and uncles. On Friday, we went to a train display where Collin loved looking at the trains but was also so amazed by all the people!

Also as this weekend began Collin's first tooth slowly started working his way out. By Wed. this tooth had finally made an appearance. Now that this tooth is finally out, we are lucky enough to have the second bottom tooth attempting to come out as well. Collin has now decided that any and everything needs to be in his mouth. Paper is one of his favorite items as well as when sitting at any restaraunt, Collin feels he must leave his teeth marks in every table we sit at.

Finally, Collin is dying to be able to move! This weekend he has become a pro at scooting backward. I don't think it will be too long before he props up on all fours!

YUM Avocado's!!!

Today was our first day of real food. We started out with avocado and so far Collin loves it. But that doesn't surprise me... I don't think there is much he is going to not like, if it is food he is happy!

We also got a new inflateable pool for the tub. Collin is now all about sitting up so this little tub is great, he can sit up, splash, and be ever so amazed at the sides of the pool.

6 month check up

Today Collin had his 6 month check up....even though he is actually almost 6 1/2 months old. He is 19 lbs 14 oz....which is a little less than he was due to all his sickness, he lost an entire pound last week. He is 27 1/2 inches long. His weight and height are now at 80 percent..so he is starting to thin out but his head was off the charts! He must take after his dad!!!

Otherwise, So after 5 shots, Collin checked out as a normal, healthy 6 month old. Well except for his ears.... Since Collin has now had 4 ear infections in the past months, we need to take all the precautions we can....even though Dr. Steele said we have very few things in our favor. Going to Day Care, 6 months at the start of the winter, fluid currently behind his ear that has been there for the past 2 months and constant congestion. All these things lead to signs of us having another ear infection in the next four weeks! NOT GOOD!!! So looks like we are headed to an ENT!

Another excitment for Collin is his strong desire to move! He wants so badly to be able to move around. So last night and today at daycare he scooted backwards. Looks like we are on the way to wanting to crawl!

New favorite place

This morning Eric had to work so Collin and I were doing whatever we could to keep the morning lively...especially since we were up at 6:15 today! So I have found that Collin loves to sit on any counter, I know probably not a good habit to start! But, I think he likes being up high because he would be the happiest guy if he could just see everything! So as I was getting all his medicine ready he was sittiing on the counter playing with once again tupperware. He was sporting his Cardinals pj's and Eric's Cardinals was sitting near by and he started playing with it. Even though we were the smiliest we could be because he still wasn't feeling all the great, he still looked pretty cute!

New Hair Do

From the time Collin was born his hair has always had a mind of its own. It always appears to go 1o different directions at all times. Especially the hair on the top of his head insists on always standing straight up. This morning as we got Collin ready for school we decided to not just comb his hair down but to give it a bit of a spiked look! I think he really looks like a little man here!

Problem.....NOT SOLVED!

Okay so we thought we had solved the whole problem and thought it would be smooth sailing from then on. WRONG! It wasn't 24 hours since we saw Steele the Miss Mary was calling us about Collin and his 103 degree fever! Seeing Collin with a 103 degree fever was absolutely awful. He just wimpered and wimpered in pain! So now we are back to square one...another ear infection, a fever and still throwing up. There has got to be some end in sight!!

Despite all this crazy sickness, Collin is trying so hard to be his normal happy self. Today we spent the day at my parents house. Collin has recently discovered Oscar, the old, deaf and nearly blind dog! Today as Oscar was investigating the little human that sits on the floor and makes noise, Collin stuck his hand out to attempt to pet him. Even though Oscar is bigger than Collin he quickly ran away scared of Collin's attempt! Collin went right back to playing with the tupperware and spoon on the floor...he new favorite toy!

Problem Solved....Hopefully!

After going to the doctor yet again, Collin has now been diagnosed with Gastritis. Basically his little intestines and stomach are all inflamed from the stomach flu. So now that we have some medicine hopefully he will be able to keep some food down, especially since he is now 19 pounds instead of 20.