Night #2

So, we are in the throes of Extreme Makeover: Sleep Edition! :) After Colin's 1 year checkup on Friday (very healthy at 22 lbs/40th percentile and 29"/25th percentile), we were set to start a redesign of all sleep aspects. Our pediatrician gave us some good tips I felt were fair and between those and a fabulous book I've been reading we were ready come Sunday. The game plan: to move bedtime up to 7pm instead of 8pm and to start teaching our little monkey to self-soothe by putting him to sleep relaxed, but awake. We would have to try the cry it out method again, but this time with support... going in there to reassure and Morgan would be sleeping on a mattress on the floor in Colin's room so he knew he wasn't abandoned. Sunday night it took 1 hour for him to fall asleep after putting him down awake but the little guy was so tired, he literally fell asleep upright and then collapsed. He awoke at 1am and Morg went in and sang and reassured without picking him up. It took another hour but then Colin drifted to sleep until he awoke for the day at 6:30. Last night (night #2) was SO much better.... down for bed at 7:30 and it only took 20 minutes of fussing. He slept until 5:00am!! Morg again went in and layed next to the crib and reassured him. After 20 minutes, our babe was back asleep and slept until 6:30. Cross your fingers tonight is even better!! :)

Birthday party pictures!

Natural cake made with Tofu... hmmm, it's looks pretty, but how does it really taste?

This cake is actually really good!!!

Opening birthday gifts!

I'm getting the hang of this!

Family shot!

Happy 1st Birthday

My sweet Colin,
Today marks one year that you have been in this world, and in our lives. It is blowing my mind that this time last year, I had just given birth to you and that is when my amazement began. And it continues to grow and grow and grow. You are one year old today and the best thing to have ever happened to me by far.

We celebrated your birthday at the park with many friends and family to share in the miracle of you. You were a good boy, enjoying all the people and winnie the pooh decorations. You were passed from one person to the next fairly easily and only got upset when I was in your line of sight- you really have become a mama's boy! :) You received so many beautiful gifts and will be styled out in all the cute clothes! We had lots of yummy food to eat and most importantly, we had TWO cakes for you- a normal unhealthy kind for adults, and for you: a natural sugar-free, tofu ingredient cake that was made with love by Dani! It looked so pretty! You had fun digging into the cream cheese frosting (sugar-free! :)) and chewing the cake. You were very pensive as you decided how to get the cake into your mouth... you were clean, almost too clean! :)

Happy Birthday my precious sweet pea. You will never know how much I love you and thank the lucky stars you are mine.

Love,
Your mama

April 16th- one year ago

Today has me reminiscing of one year ago- my due date with Colin. I remember thinking how bizarre it was to see your due date finally arrive and then come and go with no baby. Who knew that two days later I would be going into labor and then 2+ days later I would deliver. This day is so special to me and I can't help but relive the incredible process in my mind of how I brought my baby boy into this world.... there is no better anniversary! Happy April 16th!!

Colie on the Go!

Our little Colin is more and more active these days! He is loving crawling around, pulling himself up and cruising from the furniture to the sofa and along anything else that he can steady himself! And at night...well he is equally a wiggle worm. I'm not going to tempt fate, but suffice it to say we are at a crossroads as to what to do about his sleeping, or lack thereof as I really should say. Luckily our little bear is so unbelievably happy and such a good boy. I'm in full-on nostalgia mode these days, remembering where I was a year ago this time, and eagerly anticipating the celebration of Colin's 1st birthday. How time flies... amazing.

Say CHEESE!

Every day it seems we see new aspects of our little Colin's personality. It is very obvious how independent he is and that he has many sides to him...sweetness, softness, humor, fun and a rebellious and strong willed side too! Lately, he has become very concentrated in "throwing" his toys with force. I mean, he will grunt/growl when he does it as to show how important his task is. He also will grab my cheeks and almost grit his teeth as he does it. It is so funny but we try to not laugh and just say "gentle, nice mommy". Of course that is usually followed with another grasp! And, one of my personal favorite new tricks is how he poses for pictures. He crinkles his nose and eyes and smiles so hard, it is just hysterical as evidenced by this picture!

Bon Journo!

We are back from 2 beautiful weeks in Tuscany to celebrate my dad's 60th birthday. What a trip... we stayed in a gorgeous villa in the country nestled among 600 acres of rolling green hills and plain beauty!! What a blessing to breathe clean air, awake to quiet (no traffic, actually no cars for that matter) and just peacefulness. We took day trips each and every day and saw so many wonderful and different towns... Siena, Cinque Terre, Florence, San Gimignano, Volterra, Lucca, Vinci, Greve, Chianni and more... we saw beautiful sights, ate amazing pasta and gelato and drank way too much wine!!

Most importantly, Colin was a champ! He adjusted beautifully to the time difference and just went with the flow every day. He picked up some new tricks while over there- blowing kisses, "rolling them up" during claps of pat-a-cake, and cut his fourth tooth. He was such a good boy...! He got some good time with Grandpa, Noni and Nana... he has quiet the fan base!

After two weeks on the go, we are happy to be home and personally I am content in staying put for a while! Now on to planning his first birthday party!!!