Easter

We got to spend a wonderful week with both of our families in Kiawah for Easter.  It was an absolute blast.  It was filled with lots of food, playing chase, soccer, bike rides, digging in the sand, easter eggs and some cool dips in the pool.  Though the temps did reach 70, the breeze made for a chilly time in the pool.  My dad did heat it but you had to keep your shoulders under.  Grandma was the champ as she swam with Whitney who wasn't phased in the slightest!  Thank goodness we had the hot tub to recoup in!

Here are a TON of pics to remember our time together! Ok, they just uploaded in a very random order and I don't have the patience or time to sort them. Enjoy!

Happy Birthday Colin!

Colin is one year old!  I really just can't believe it!  This year has flown by so fast.  I think the joy of having him in our family and the busy life of having two makes everything go by in a flash!

Colin's one year old stats are 24 lbs and 30 inches, which is 75% for both.  I didn't catch the head measurement but he tops off at 95%!!!  He is definitely into 18 month clothing though the pants are a bit big. At first glance his hair seems brown but a closer look and it is definitely showing lots of blonde. He also has some little curls in the back.  I am not sure what color his eyes are yet.  They are dark gray with some green and some brown.

Around 10 months he decided the army crawl was old news and has been happy on his knees ever since.  However, he is happiest scaling the furniture, making laps with his walker and trying to sneak up the stairs. He is pretty sturdy on his feet but I think we have awhile before he is walking on his own. Which may be good, this guy is going to keep me running!

His latest talent is dancing.  Anytime music comes on he stops what he is doing and dances.  His subtle head bob has turned into a full out marching of his little feet and throwing one hand in the air.  It is so stinkin' cute!

I love that he thinks Whitney is the most hilarious person around.  Her high energy keeps him so entertained and his belly laugh just makes my day.

He loves his Papa.  When Tim arrives home from work Colin is usually having dinner in his high chair and he throws his hand up and offers him a high five.  And he loves to watch Tim cook.  His high chair is in sight line of the range and he is always intrigued by all the commotion that is going on.

He is the BIGGEST Mama's boy.  Of course I love that he loves me so, but sometimes a Mama needs a break! But really who can complain about all the attention he gives me.  Every time I get him from his crib he throws is arms around my neck and gives me the biggest, sweetest hug.  The open mouth, droolly kisses are pretty awesome too.  If I am sitting on the floor he comes over and lays his head down on my lap.  It is so sweet.

I love this little boy so much and I am so excited to see the little boy he is about to become.  This time is so bittersweet. You say goodbye to the little baby and watch as they discover new things, start to express themselves and the toddler emerges.

We celebrated his birthday this year with all the Ashbaugh and O'Neill family in Kiawah.  He got spoiled with many gifts and lots of attention!

He wasn't sure about all the singing...

Colin LOVED his cake! 

The Dentist

It's funny how exciting the first trip to the dentist is when you are three years old.  At some point that changes.  The first cavity.  Braces.  Or for me, broken front teeth!  I have spent many a hours in a dentist chair and can say that the routine bi-annually check-up isn't so bad.  I think Whitney would agree.

This post is a little late, but in January Whitney had her first visit to the dentist.  It was a good year in the making.  She came to one of my appointments last year and sat on my mom's lap watching all that went on.  Following along in the Berenstain Bears Visit's the Dentist book my mom found. We have read this book a good dozen times.  So, I think Whitney was pretty prepared and she did great!

The hygientist, Jennifer, was fantastic! She tested out the cleaning tool on Whitney's hand so she knew what to expect.

Patiently waiting

 Whitney didn't want the chair too far back so poor Jennifer had to stand to clean her teeth.  Oh, and they supplied the stylish glasses!

Dr Groy, (my dentist since I was 12), showing her how he was going to count her teeth.

Checking out the "goody" bag.

Everyday Happenings

Colin is just about 11 months and Whitney just about 3 years and 9 months.  They both have been growing so much lately I thought I should write about it.

As I watch Whitney walking around talking, singing and playing make believe, I can't believe my first baby is so old!  She continues to make us laugh everyday with her silly ways.  Ever since she was a baby she has loved to put things on her head.  Buckets, boxes, napkins, blankets.  And to this day she loves to put random objects on her head and thinks it is the funniest thing ever.  Lately, she has been singing a ton and we have gotten some really good recordings of it. Anything from Call Me Maybe, to Twinkle Twinkle Little Star to Doe A Deer.  It is so fun to watch her grow and see how her mind works. We love seeing that she is such a blend of the two of us.  She can be quiet at times like her Mama, but loves to be a jokester like her Papa.  She loves to sing and dance like  you know who!  She loves maps, and lists and puzzles and just loves to figure out how things work.  Definitely a Papa trait.  Whitney has always been such a loving little girl but lately it has matured in a way.  Really asking me how I am feeling about something or asking me how my day went.  The other day she asked after a baby shower, "How was the baby party, Mama"?  I am so proud to see the loving and considerate little girl we are so blessed to call ours.


Now Colin is my snuggle bug.  This boy just continues to melt my heart with his snuggles and kisses.  However, he gets very excited and those kisses sometimes turn into bites.  Bites that really hurt!  So, we are working on that!  He has been cruising the furniture for quite awhile and is getting much better with his walker.  He has even had brief moments of standing with no hands.  My prediction is he is walking by 13 months.  He seems to be about a month ahead of Whitney with that stuff.  He is an eating machine.  He loves just about everything we put on his plate.  Some recent additions to his menu are tilapia, soy beans and he LOVES pears.  His favorite thing to do is to play with Whitney's kitchen.  Yes, Whitney's big play kitchen she got for Christmas gets more play time from this guy.  We have blocked off our unfurnished living room so he can't escape and put the kitchen in there.  He will spend hours in here.  He likes it because he can look in and see me cooking dinner but is happy in there playing by himself.  He has also started dancing.  If music comes on he stops what he is doing and does a very subtle nodding of his head.  Very cute!

Whitney is so good with her little brother.  If he is crying, she says, "It's ok Colin, I am right here".  And of course he wants to do whatever she is doing.  Which of course has caused for some difficulties with grabbing toys and such but that just comes with the territory of having siblings.  I love to watch their bond grow every day and I feel so lucky I am home to witness it all.

Here are some fun photos over that last month.

I mean, who doesn't watch TV with a hat over their face.

Shopping cart a Wegmans

Morning talks

Helping out while we had a weekend away.

Library time

Under a tent, a favorite activity around here.

So big!

 After nap snuggles

Kitchen time!

Valentine's Day

Valentine's Day was really fun this year.  Whitney was especially into it since they were talking about it so much at school and doing many projects.  We did a few project here at home too, thanks to Grandma for sending some fun supplies!

My favorite thing about this Valentine's Day was our Love Jar.  I took an idea from a blog I follow and came up with a plan of my own.  I really hope to make this a yearly tradition.  Whitney helped me decorate the Love Jar.  For the two weeks leading up to Valentine's day we all wrote reasons why we love each person on a piece of paper and put it in our jar. Obviously, we had fun writing them for Colin but it was really fun seeing what Whitney wanted to say about everyone!  Then at our Valentine's Day dinner we read them to each other.  It was so much fun!

Loved his card but had to quickly take it since he started eating it.  

Loved her Jake and The Neverland card from Papa.  Had fun putting the coins in the treasure chest!

Colin's Baptism

This past weekend was Colin's baptism.  It was an amazing weekend spent with family.  He was baptized at Leesburg Presbyterian Church where I grew up going.  Whitney was also baptized here.  He did an amazing job the entire service.  He loved watching the choir and dancing along with their singing.  He got passed down the pew sitting with different people.  And most importantly he did not cry when the minister took him and put the water on his head!  We then hosted 35 people at our house for lunch and had a blast visiting with everyone!

What was extra special about the weekend was the visit from Brady, Niki, Cole and Haley.  They live in Charlotte and we only get to see them about 2-3 times a year.  We were thrilled to have them come and stay at our new home and create many fun memories together.  Cole and Haley kept Whitney and Colin busy with hide 'n' seek, Ipad games and crafts.  And the best part was Brady and Niki became Colin's god parents!  Thank you guys for making the trip up!

I definitely did not get enough pictures from the weekend but here are a few highlights.