"I am Robot"

Colin LOVES to dance! 

He also has picked up the Robot somewhere.  It started as:

And then it developed into this:

And:

~ Love, Hugs & Kisses ~

The B Family

Saying Goodbye to Summer

It will remain hot here for a while but the feeling of summer is ending.  Kids are going back to school.  Colin's camps are over and his regular pre-school is back in session.  We will still be able to go to the water garden probably until October (maybe) but it is still sad to see the summertime go away.  Although, the fall is my favorite time and so beautiful here. That thought makes me happy.  We are planning to go apple picking in September and maybe strawberry picking again.  The fall has a lot of fun activities. Plus, the heat is easier to handle for the kids (and the parents) during the fall. Colin has already brought up the pumpkin patch. 

Just wanted to share a few pictures from our weekend. 

Oh!  Guess who signed up for Tae Kwon Do classes!  Colin starts next week.  He will have class two times a week.  He is a little TKD Tiger! I think he will really enjoy this - I hope so. 

~ Love, Hugs & Kisses ~

The B Family

Meli's Toys

Meli has discovered TOYS!  Some of her favorites are:

Her playmat.  This is where she does tummytime and can lay on her back and pull the musical bird and a few other hanging things.  She likes to grab things with her feet too.

Her flower with all of the tags.  She LOVES this!  Colin is very proud of this toy because a girl from his daycare bought it for Meli.

Her flower, her pooh and her bouncer - all fun!

Her Pooh bear.  The bottom part looks like a blanket.  She likes to rub it on her face.

Laying on the floor makes her happy.  She likes to roll back and forth.

Colin has to join her of course! He also makes a great toy!

She enjoys sitting propped up by her boppy.

I just included this because she is so cute!

As soon as I load them I will post some pictures of Colin's dancing.  He has been dancing like a maniac!

~ Love, Hugs & Kisses ~

The B Family

"Goodnight Moon"

Mae Mae  is 14 weeks now!  She has changed so much these past few weeks.  Ms. B (her amazing daycare provider) says she is a 6 month old in a 3 month old body.  Small but advanced - of course any mama loves to hear that!  I just soak in all of the praise and keep hoping for more.  Proud mama! I need to weigh and measure baby girl, maybe next post.

What to write about??? Hmmm...one of my favorite times of  day as a family is story time.  This is a big part of our day. This is the time where no matter what we have going on we try hard to have all of us there. This is not always the case. But for as long as we have been doing it we have a pretty good record. We started reading to Colin during his first few weeks – more out of desperation to stay awake while little guy was adjusting to a “night time” schedule then anything else. Then when he was a few months old we started involving all three of us and made it part of our routine as a family. The Three Musketeers! There were times when I was on travel or Will had band rehearsal that it was just Colin and one of us but for the most part Colin did not mind. In a way it was a treat. Colin loves story time even though that means he is that much closer to bed.  He loves to pick out his two books and laying down in mommy and daddy's bed.

Enters Meli. Four Musketeers?!? A musketeer who at first was not willing to work with etched in stone schedule, so for a while there Will ran story time/bed time with Colin and I took Meli duty. Now Meli is being a little more cooperative with this part of the evening and seems to like the routine. Fingers-crossed.

Here are some pictures of our typical night.

After dinner we have relaxation/play time.

Then bath time

Then Colin gets a little treat.  Like a hershey kiss or a small cookie.

Then it is clean-up time, followed by stories!

Then the three of us say "Goodnight Colin".

Followed by Will, Meli and I relaxing on the couch watching a show or two until it is time for Meli to go to bed.

Then we say "Goodnight Mae Mae"

We have started to add a book for Meli into Colin's story time.  This week we have been reading "Goodnight Moon".  One of my favorites from when Colin was a baby.  He would try to catch the mouse on each page.  He would pretend he pinched it!

~ Love, Hugs & Kisses ~

The B Family

Blogging Mamas

You know those days when you feel like everything is just too much??? You are just so overwhelmed with work, kids, school (or whatever else it may be) and you just want a moment to yourself...you may not but sometimes, not too often, but sometimes I feel like that.  Especially the first few months after Meli's arrival. Usually this happens when I am beyond tired, behind on my homework, stressed from a busy day at work and then I come home and Colin is having a bad day and Meli is fussy - I find myself just wanting to scream!  Luckily this does not happen very often but there have been a few times.  It is hard adjusting to having two kids but I think that we have found a nice routine (a big part of that success is due to having a wonderful teammate), which recently had to change when I started back to work - but that adjustment worked out very nicely. When I do come upon these "down in the dumps" days I visit two blogs.  These two blogging mamas are such an inspiration to me. 

One lady lost her baby boy after 6 days.  I cannot even begin to imagine.  Here is her blog Waiting for Happy.

The other lady gave birth to a sleeping baby boy and then had another boy who was diagnosed with Junctional Epidermolysis Bullosa. Her blog is Before the Morning.  He was not expected to reach his first birthday but he did and is doing well inspite of this condition.  Both are very well-written and just amazing women.  Reading for just a second reminds me how fortunate I am to have two beautiful healthy babies and my worries and stressors just disappear...

...or at least do not seem so bad.

~ Love, Hugs & Kisses ~

 

The B Family

A Bunny & a Boy

 “Wherever they go, and whatever happens to them on the way, in that enchanted place on the top of the forest, a little boy and his Bear will always be playing.” - A.A. Milne

I am so happy to say that Colin's buddy (aka Bunny) is still a part of the B family.  He is looking a little tattered and does not have as much spring to his hop as he did a few years ago but Bunny is definitely a trooper. The little guy will be 4 this next Easter.  I am extremely impressed that he has lasted.  Colin has put him through a lot.   I think it is super cute that Colin's special item is a bunny and so was Will's.  Bunrab (Will's special friend) is still around too!  We keep him in a safe place, but have shown Colin a few times.  He likes to compare the two.  I wonder if Meli will have something that she holds so dear.  I hope so.  It has not been hindering like some items can be.  Colin at first would want to take bunny in the store but when he got a little older we started telling him that Bunny needed to wait in the car and as long as you explained why then Colin was OK with it.  There have also been a handful of times where Bunny was left behind and daycare, at first Colin would be upset but then we would explain that he would see him in the morning and that Bunny was having a sleepover with Ms. T - which made it OK.  We also let him borrow a stuffed animal from Meli or one of my old ones that I still have. 

Colin's first birthday

Thanksgiving time 2008

Bunny helps Colin protect mom from bad guys

Christmas 2009

Worn out buddies

Since I do not write on my travel blog as often, check out my entry about Charleston, SC.

~ Love, Hugs & Kisses ~

The B Family

3 Months

I had to be away from my baby girl for the first time this past week.  I headed down to Charleston, South Carolina.  I had a good time but did miss Meli, Colin and Will.  My favorite part of a trip is when I come back and see my babies.  Colin just stares at me with such a big smile like he is just beyond amazement that I am back.  Meli also smiled at me.  I am telling myself that she recognized me. I think she did!  Mae Mae has done some new things this past week.  She smiled at her reflection for the first time.  She also is playing around with her binky, slowly taking it in and out of her mouth.  Will said while I was gone she discovered that if she pulls on her bird on the playmat music plays.  She was entertained by that for quite some time.  Meli is 3 months today!  As usual - crazzzzy!  Will was so good at sending me text with pictures of my babies.  Here are a few.

Well this was before I left.

My favorite boy in the whole world!

Pretty baby

Colin reading to Meli.

Discovering the bird's musical talents!

bath time with daddy

I really enjoyed Charleston, but so glad to be back.

~ Love, Hugs & Kisses ~

 The B Family

A Sauna & An Unwanted Guest

What a week! My last week at home started off not so cool and ended hot & miserable.  At the beginning of the week Will discovered (after walking under it 4 times) that we had a huge black snake hanging out over our front door (on the decorative arch).  A snake was hanging out above our door!  I had no idea that snakes could crawl up walls...way to add creepiness to an already creepy thing.  Apparently, the snake was trying to get into a vent (one that we have no idea what it does) that a little bird family had made its home.  So, at midnight Will (my hero) and I were watching this BIG snake (at least 3 feet) meticulously planning a way to the vent.  This stupid snake kept us up until like 3 in the morning.  On a side note, Will, my brave man happens to have a little, tiny fear of snakes.  He is soooo not a fan!  Neither am I but more because I am grossed out by their existence.  Eventually, Will put a broom through Meli's nursery window and flung it off the window.  Will was traumatized by the weight of it.  FREAKED! We watched where it landed for a while when all of the sudden it peaked its head back out and crept back up!  The SOB was coming back!  It tried for a little while and then disappeared under a bush.  Needless to say we did not sleep very well.  We were not sure where the vent went and if there were any other possible ways for it to get into our house.  The next day, we had a pest control company come cover any possible entries.  The bird family was no more - poor things.  They also looked for the snake but was unsuccessful.  They did find a baby one in the vent.  We have spent all week trying to catch a glimpse of it so the pest guy would come take it away. 

Fastforward to Sunday.  The day our AC breaks down.  Our house was 90 degrees ALL night!  Meli slept wonderfully.  She did not wake up.  I finally woke her up at 4 to make sure she was OK and to feed her.  I did not sleep well.  I slept horribly!  Thankfully the AC people fixed it today.  Virginia is so hot and humid.  I love this state but as long as my AC works!

OK, moving on to the beautiful babies!  Meli is 12 weeks and as cute as ever.  She discovered her feet this week.  She is very entertained by them, especially when she has footed pajamas on.  She has been talking to herself and can lay on her own and will entertain herself.  My baby girl.  She has noticed the TV.  Colin was watching a show and Meli was transfixed.  She is moving all over the place.  Always laying in different directions, rolling around and if on her belly moving forward.  Whoa!

Colin still loves being a big brother.  He is sadly calling us Dad and Mom now.  Not a fan of that.  Made me want to cry.  For one it makes me sound old and second, it makes Colin sound older.  So not a fan.  I want to stay mommy.  Hopefully it is just a phase.

~ Love, Hugs & Kisses ~

The B Family

Red Umbrella

A few months ago we remodeled our entry bathroom. Will & I were inspired by a painting of a red umbrella.

Before:

After:

~ Love, Hugs & Kisses ~

The B Family

Colin's Art Corner

Today was a craft day for Colin and I.  We were very ambitious and planned to make tie-dye shirts, wooden airplanes and boats, and paper bag puppets.  Well, we only did one wooden airplane - which is good because we can make all of the fun art projects last.  Here are some pictures of Colin's art project.

Setting up.

Colin ready to go.

Half-way through!

All cleaned up and showing off the final product!

May May relaxing and being entertained by big brother

~ Love, Hugs & Kisses ~

The B Family