Colin Joins the Party

Now that it is summer time and Colin's pre-school is over for the school year he will be spending time at home with Meli and I.  This week he has been here all week and in July he will go two days a week to a summer camp ran by the same lady that does his pre-school.  The theme for July is camping and August is Super Heroes. 

Colin definitely adds excitement to our day.  It took us the first few days to adjust our schedule to him and get him used to ours. 

We are spending more time outside now that Colin is here, which I am enjoying as long as I can keep Meli from getting too much sun.  So far we have hung out at one of the two big playgrounds in our area.  Castle Park.  Next week we will head to Dinosaur Park.  It was fun, I met a few other mothers.  One of them I had seen last year at the Water Garden (aka the water feature).  She is from England and very nice.  Her oldest is near Colin's age.  I also met another from Germany.

Today, we ventured out to the Water Garden to hang out with my friend, Andrea (aka AA), who I met while working at Barnes and Noble in Portland.  She just could not stand being so far from Will and I, so now she is in Virginia.  Haha, just joking...she is originally from this area.  Having us so close was just an added bonus.  We had a blast playing with AA and her little munchkins!

Colin has been enjoying our morning walks.  For a kid who is so energetic he can walk slow when he wants to.  Like REALLY slow.  Our walks take so long now.  Plus, I have to keep stopping for him to catch up.  He gets sidetracked by things along the way.  Bye bye workout.  Near the end of our walk we get to say hello to the diggers and bulldozers.  Colin is really into construction vehicles right now.  The workers probably think we are weird plopped down on the sidewalk just watching them work!

The other night we decided to make pizza as a family.  We also had sundaes!  Colin is such a good chef!

~ Love, Hugs & Kisses ~

The B Family

Baby Meli: 7 Weeks

Our Lil' Peanut

Meli was 7 weeks yesterday.  Crazy!!  She is getting way more interactive with us and loves to watch everyone.  She is getting pretty good at keeping her head steady.  She could lift it pretty well (for being a few days old) by her first doctor appointment which thoroughly impressed the doctors, that and her alertness. She is cooing, laughing here and there, and smiling.  Great times!

She is starting to gather a good collection (in my opinion) of nicknames.  So far she has Mae, Lil' Peanut, Mae-Mae, Mae Day, the little Princess and Colin is calls her "sister" a lot. 

She sleeps very well at night.  I wake her up if she does not wake on her own to feed.  She feeds between 1 and 3 times a night.  If I wake her up just one!

Here are some pictures from last week: 

She loves her bee mobile.  She just watches it and smiles.

Watching it again.

We went on a walk early enough that it was a little chilly.

Getting ready for a crab feast!

Her new friend (thank you P-Pa and Mi-Ma).

~ Love, Hugs & Kisses ~

The B Family

Princess Meli's Closet

It seems that Meli's fashion show has snuck its way into our daily routine.  Her outfits are so cute I just have to take a picture each morning after our workout time. She gets dressed before my shower, so I can avoid dressing her when she feels she has had enough relaxation time and is ready to be fed. Doing it this way does mean that my hair time can get sacrificed but at least the no brush look works for curly hair. 

The outfits are so cute.  I am only using the ones that seems to be on the smaller side since she is so thin.  Who knew I would have so much fun with baby girl clothes.

Here is a peak into Meli's closet!

~ Love, Hugs &; Kisses ~

The B Family

Pooh's Bees

"That buzzing-noise means something. If there's a buzzing noise, somebody's making a buzzing-noise, and the only reason for making a buzzing-noise that I know of is because you're a bee. .... And the only reason for being a bee that I know of is making honey..... And the only reason for making honey is so as I can eat it." Winne-the-Pooh

This last week Meli has really started to notice her bee mobile.  She loves it!  I was actually able to clean for about 30 minutes while she watched it this morning.

~ Love, Hugs & Kisses ~

The B Family

Looking Back: 9-12 Months

I thought I should try to get this last one done, especially since a lot of my more recent blogs have focused more on Meli.  Colin did have 3 years of being the only one though - so he is fine! The 9th thru 12 months were so much fun.  Colin had such a great personality.  Always happy, rarely cranky and that was even with teething.  He seriously had (and still does) the most energy I have ever seen in a kid.  He also talked a lot.  He started making noises early and never stopped.  He crawled pretty quickly and took steps way before he really started walking. He always preferred what got him to his destination the quickest, which was crawling.  So he took his time on transitioning to walking full-time.  He did not make that transition until after his first birthday but when he did he was pretty good at it for the most part.  A semi-pro!  At 9 months he went through a phase of scooting on his bottom.  He thought it was so much fun.

He had pancakes for the first time at 9 months.  We took him to IHOP and he fell in love with the breakfast food.  Still loves them to this day.  During this time, Daddy and Colin would come and cheer me on while I played softball for a co-ed team. 

At 9 months he also started talking to his toys in a demanding tone, like he was telling them what to do. He would add "ma ma" in every once in a while like I was telling them to do it.  It was very cute.

During this period, Colin was a big fan of clapping and dancing.  He also would laugh so hard when daddy would rub his hand over his stubble.  Colin started to wave at people but his hand was backward so he was waving at himself.  Colin got his first hair cut during this time, by me!  It is something I am still learning but definitely improving on.

We were probably weird, but we did not buy Colin shoes until he started walking.  I always thought they were pointless unless he was going to be crawling in the mud or walking in it.  So, he got his first pair of shoes during this time as well. Colin loved to give sloppy kisses, I mean open mouth and very wet kisses!  Our little buddy is very affectionate!

By one year he loved to say "uh huh" and loved to laugh. He was also saying "ball" and "choo-choo".  At this time he had quite a few words built up and then a lot of nonsense to make it look like he was really talking.  Our guy loved to talk and still does.  Colin was very ticklish under his chin and underarms.  He would also mimic his daddy's laugh.  Very funny to watch.  Whenever he discovers something new he would say "oh". He also was obsessed with Elmo!  If he would see him in the toy section he would freak.  Like really freak.  It actually embarrassed Will and I.  He would look like he was throwing a fit but he was swinging his arms, and making all kinds of noise.  I have a few videos of it.  I think I posted one on here before. 

The main things I remember about Colin at this age was that he was constantly moving and talking.  So much energy.  People comment on his energy levels all the time.  Plus, his laugh.  He has always been a very happy guy.  We have been very spoiled by his lack of "trouble phases".  He skipped the "terrible two's" and "terrible three's" for the most part.  He does test the boundaries of rules and listening.  We got us a clever one!

Colin went to his first pumpkin patch (a tradition we have upheld) during this time.  He had his first Halloween (Tigger) and second Thanksgiving. 
For Colin's first birthday, we did a Elmo theme.  We did cupcakes hoping they would be less messy.  This was his first time having cake and at first I did not think he would eat it.  He kept examining the cupcake and then nibbled at it.  After a bit he chowed it down and got the icing every where.

Too much cake!

He also had his first ouchie.  He fell off a chair and got his first black eye and cut. Poor baby.  That was the day of his birthday party.

Thanksgiving.

First birthday

~ Hugs & Kisses ~

The B Family

No Blueberries

This morning at breakfast Colin was pretty talkative - and maybe a tad bit grumpy.  A few days ago he decided he did not like blueberries.  Is this because daddy does not like blueberries and makes faces when I put them on his plate in the morning - hmmm, maybe.  All I know is one day he was chowing them down like he does all fruit and the next he does not like them.  Well, today when he noticed that I had blueberries in my cereal he felt he needed to correct the situation.

Colin - "Momma you do not like blueberries"
Me - "Yes, I do"
Colin - "No you don't"

Then I try to explain to a three year old that people do not always like the same things and that is OK.  He did not buy that.

Colin - "Daddy, we go to the movie theatre" (yes he said 'movie theatre').
Daddy - "Sure one of these days".
Colin - "We will go see a bunny and Gnomeo, but Momma can't go"
Daddy - "Why not?"
Colin - " She is going to stay at home FOREVER.  She is going to the store.  I going to call the police and get momma in the big cage.  The Biggest Cage EVER!"
Daddy - "Who will watch baby sister?"
Colin - "Sister will go to the movie theatre.  She won't cry.  Daddy and Colin going to drive.  Colin needs to drive and daddy will pretend he is driving.  Drive to the movie theatre."

All over blueberries!

He did tell me later that I was not going to go to the big cage and that he would not call the police so I could go to the movie theatre as well.  What a relief!

~ Love, Hugs & Kisses ~

 The B Family

Baby Meli: 6 Weeks

Meli is 6 weeks today.  Her personality is really starting to show this past week.  I just love the early stages where you watch little glimpses into who your child is going to be.  She has been giving me kisses.  So cute.  She seems to be trying to mimick how I give her kisses.  Mine are less slobbery though!  She is showing some interest in her toys also.  She hates it but we have been doing tummy time, which she is getting better at.  Instead of working on rolling over, which she has done a couple of times, she appears to be trying to move forward.  Already getting her feet up like she wants to crawl.

During storytime last night, Colin was in her face as usual and she looked at him and (probably accidentally) touched her forehead to his.  He LOVED it!  Colin had the biggest smile.  When I asked him if he loved his sister - he said "oh yeah".  He also said that he loves it when she touches his face.  She is a lucky little girl.

~ Love, Hugs &; Kisses ~

The B Family

Father's Day

This Father's Day we had a lot of family time but still managed to give Will a little break and let him enjoy some alone time to do whatever he wanted.  I think 007 Wii was involved!  Colin and I started the day by treating daddy to doughnuts, coffee and a few gifts from Meli and Colin, which included a card from each with their handprints and footprints.  That was an event in itself!  Meli was not a fan of the paint and managed to get it every where!  Colin thought it was hilarious watching Meli and thoroughly ejoyed the painting time. 

After breakfast we took Colin's new bike out for a test run (thank you A &A).  Colin is still learning but loves the bike.  And the helmet.  He wanted to wear it when we went to the store to get doughnuts.  The lady at the coffee shop drive-thru thought he was adorable sporting his helmet and sunglasses.  We had a great time at the park, playing at the playground, learning to ride a bike, and Will and I were able to toss a football around.  Meli was a good, quiet girl the whole time.  I am pretty sure she is growing because she has been sleeping a ton (except for today). 

I was hoping to post this on Father's day but had some computer issues...so a bit late but happy father's day to my dear husband who is such an amazing father and my own dad who I love and miss so much!

~ Love, Hugs &; Kisses ~

The B Family

Baby Meli: 5 Weeks

Meli had her check up today.  All is well.  She is now 9lbs and 6 oz, which is in the 60th percentile.  Her doctor said that she believes Meli is the most expressive baby she has every seen at this age.  She was crying and it looked like she was trying to tell the doctor a story.  So cute.  She does that quite often.  She acts like she is having a conversation with you.  Poor girl had to get some shots but did OK. 

 She has been smiling a lot and acts like she wants to play with us.  Our baby is so cute!!

Uncle Eggrey & Grammie

What a week! My mom and younger brother flew out for a visit and to meet our precious little Meli.   Meli, being as adorable as she is instantly had Grammie wrapped around her little finger.  She was spoiled by  always having someone to hold her while she slept the day away (Grammie).  My mom had a knack for getting Meli into a deep sleep.  I was not even feeding her as often this week.  Mom - the boobs thank you!  I also think that little one is going through a growing spurt because she has been sleeping all the time.

We had such a fun week with our west coast guests.  Colin just ADORED Uncle Eggrey (Gregory) and barely left his side the whole time.  Colin showed off his favorite place, the water fountain and we took Gregory to the Marine Corp Museum (who is a former Marine).  We also went to the Air and Space Museum, took Grammie to the Outlets, went to the National Zoo, and had a Sip & See party to welcome Meli.  This week has been the most active I have been. Both kids did pretty well in the museums.  Especially Colin, who worried us with all of his energy being pent up in a museum.  A lot of walking, which wore him out.  Meli too! Even though she was just pushed or carried.  It has been really hot here so that alone would tire one out.  All the activity is good for my poor sore legs and stomach but whoa...I was exhausted! 

I am so glad they both were able to come out.  It had been a year and half since I had seen either of them and that is just way too long.  I love being able to take them around the DC area when they are here and just sit and visit. 

Water Park



Challenging the water



Air & Space



 

Bath time



Girl Talk



Playground





Meli enjoying our venture outside




The tiger showing the crowd whats up





The lion cubs we have been reading about in the newspaper





3 Generations




Pajama party!!!

 Miss you two already!!

~ Love, Hugs &; Kisses ~

The B Family