One Year Check Up

 

 This morning we had Colton's one year check up.  I was SO thankful my neighbor offered to take Ryan to the library with her boys.  They were doing a special helicopter landing for the kids and also had firetrucks and ambulances for the kids to see and play on.  

It made it so much easier to just have one baby at the doctor and Ryan had a BLAST with his buddies.  He hasn't stopped talking about the helicopter all day!

Colton had a great check up.  He weighs 18lbs (5th percentile).  I'm a little worried that his weight is still so low.  We couldn't figure out why since he is such a good eater and all.  We will monitor this over the next few months and hope he puts on some weight.  I think part of it is because he's so mobile now.  I told the doctor how Ryan is doing good going to the potty and his reward right now is milkshakes when he fills up his sticker chart.  He said we should give Colton some milkshake, haha!  Pretty sure he would love that. 

He is 29 inches tall.  Right at 25th percentile.  His head circumference was also 25th percentile so at least he is proportionate.  He is a little peanut!  

The doctor wants to make sure he is taking at least 16 oz of whole milk daily.  If he doesn't drink his milk or continues not gain weight we will talk about doing formula again.  

He is doing great with his motor and gross skills.  Right on track.  The doctor was also glad to see he is crawling on all fours and pulling up to his knees.  Yay for a healthy check up!  So blessed to have a sweet and adorable little boy!

Happy Birthday Colton!!!

 Colton:

You are one year old today.  It seems just like yesterday that we were rushing off to the hospital to finally meet you.  I had no idea what you would look like or be.

You were 7 lbs 1oz bundle of joy.  We were overwhelmed with love for you.

Since the day you were born you have been the sweetest and most content baby.  You have the sweetest personality and just so happy.  We see more of your personality coming out every day.

I loved you from the moment I met you and now I love you 100x more.  My love grows for you every day.

You are so content and just yummy.  You love to clap your hands and you get so excited.

You warm up to people quickly but you are definitely a momma's boy.  You play well by yourself but if I'm in sight you want me to hold you.

You mostly wake up happy and give the biggest smile when I come get you in your bed.

You don't say too many words yet.  You say dadada, momma and that's about it.

You are a GREAT eater and great sleeper.  Your favorite foods are grapes, watermelon and crackers.

The last few days you have had a runny nose and sound congested.  I've been trying to do the nose suction but you can't stand that thing.  Today I think you are finally feeling better.   

You still only have two teeth.  I'm hoping your top teeth come in soon!

You still army crawl primarily.  Sometimes you crawl on all fours but you are faster army crawling.  You are not even close to walking and I'm totally ok with that.  Crawling is enough for me.

Not sure of your stats yet but you weigh around 20lbs.  You wear size 12 month clothes, size 4 diapers and size 3.5 shoe.  

We started whole milk today and you seem to like it but not as much as your formula.  I don't think you like that's it's so cold.  I might try warming it a little for you tomorrow. 

 God has blessed us so much with two precious boys.  I thank God for you every day for such amazing gifts.  We love our Colton Bear so much! You have totally stolen our hearts.

Happy first birthday Colton!  I look forward to celebrating many more wonderful birthdays with you.

Zoo Day

 We had talked about going to the pool today with our friends Will and Caroline but it was a chilly 70 degrees so we opted for the zoo instead.  It was the perfect day for the zoo!  Apparently the rest of Cincinnati thought it was a great day for the zoo.  It was packed and stacked.  

Will and Ryan are just the best of friends.  They had a blast playing together and seeing all the animals.  

Ryan has always been very quiet when we ride in the car.  Recently he has started the whole "mommy, what is that?" and pointing at everything out the window.  I love his inquisitiveness - is that even a word, ha?  He loved telling me all the animals at the zoo today.

This afternoon we played in the water table and baby pool in the backyard.  It was fun to relax and enjoy the beautiful weather.  

I'm in total party mode getting ready for Colton's birthday party in a couple weeks.  Just about all my free time is spent planned, crafting and organizing his party.  So excited and can't wait to celebrate his special day.  

It was just one year ago tonight that my water broke and we were headed to the hospital to have our sweet Colton bear.  Love, love, love him so!

Do you see this hard worker?  Little man insisted on putting the water hose away.  He even coiled it up properly.  Warms my heart!

Weekend Wrap Up

 

 We had a nice weekend.  Friday night we had a date night with some friends.  It was so fun and we laughed so hard.  It was a great time.  We went to a restaurant right down the street and it was so good. Kinda expensive (that's why we haven't been in a good while) but good.

Saturday we went to the pool in the morning.  After naps we headed to Nicholas and Emelynn's for Eme's first birthday party. She and Colton are only five days apart.  I didn't take a single picture but the boys had a fantastic time!  Ryan was so hot and sweaty running around and Colton was charming as usual. 

Sunday we went to church then came home for lunch.  We put the boys down and I headed out to run some much needed errands and go to the grocery store.  I took some pictures of the boys Sunday before church.  They are so cute I can hardly stand it.

Here are some of the funny outtakes from our little session!

 Tickle, tickle big brother!

Show Us Your Life - Home Tours - Dining Room

 I'm linking up to Kelly's Show Us Your Life Home Tours - Dining Rooms today.  This is the room in our house that really needs the most work.  I love the wall color and chandelier but I would so love to get a new dining room table and chairs and buffet.  

 My dining room table is a hand me down from a family friend yeeeears ago.  It's more of a breakfast table but it works for now.  

I finally filled my apothecary jars with some fruit.  Makes them look so much better.  

I love the wall color - it's called Sagria!  I would love to one day have white wainscoting on the bottom half of the room.  I love wainscoting.  

I desperately need a new and bigger mirror for this wall.   I need a better picture collage for the other wall there on the left.  I've been looking forever for just the right window treatments.  I'm thinking just a valance would do.  Something like a black and white damask.

Sadly this room gets a little neglected since we don't use it very often.  I dream one day of having a beautiful table (i've already picked out my table and chairs) and pretty window treatments.  

I plan to take a look at more home tours to get some inspiration.  

Thursday

 Ryan did fantastic at swim lessons this morning.  In fact he didn't want to leave.  He went down the slide without me pulling him or holding his hands.  He did everything Ms.Cindy instructed him to do.

I was most impressed when he put his whole head under water and got the dive stick on the steps.  So proud of how much he learned in just four days!

It's amazing the fun a three year old can have just playing with the water hose.  

Just chillaxin in the sun!

Swim Lessons

 

 Ryan has been going to swim lessons this week!  It's been good and bad.  On Monday, the first day, he did ok.  No major meltdowns and he mostly following directions from Ms. Cindy, the instructor.  Yesterday was awful.  He wanted nothing to do with swim lessons and would not listen or follow directions from Ms. Cindy.  

Today was a great day at swim lessons.  He followed directions and dug with his arms, kicked his legs, and blew bubbles. Yay! He even went down the little slide about three times.  I'm learning, as of late, the way to get him to do something is to tell him what a big boy he is and remind him he's a big three year old now.  

 

 We are back on the potty training kick.  Dr. H said on Monday that he is physically ready but he needs to be ready.  Like I mentioned, I've been really talking up him being a big boy now.  He has successfully and willingly gone potty the last 1.5 days.  Today I started putting him on the potty every hour.  I know when he's wearing underwear it will be more often.  I'm just so glad he is willingly go sit on the potty now.  

 I started a sticker chart about a month ago and we abandoned it when he just started refusing to go.  He wanted to put his stickers on the chart again so we resumed.  I told him if he gets all the stickers on the chart his reward would be a milkshake.  Well this morning he got all his stickers so we headed to get a milkshake after naps.  It just so happened that Sonic was having 1/2 price shakes all day today.  Perfect!  Ryan basically ate all his milkshake.  He shared about three sips with me.  

I'm making a new sticker chart tonight.  Here's hoping for continued success with the potty!

Three Year Check-up

 

Yesterday we had Ryan's three year check up.  I still cannot believe he is three years old.  Tonight when I was putting him to bed we were talking about him being a big boy and a big three year old.  He is so sweet and so funny!

He weighs 29.6 lbs (35th percentile) and 38 3/4 inches tall (75th percentile).  Since they measured him up against the wall for the first time they think his height might be a little off.  At two years he measured 90th percentile for height.   I don't think he was standing straight and pretty sure he's closer to 39 inches.  They also took his blood pressure for the first time.  

The doctor was very pleased with his speech and his knowledge of colors, shapes and letters.  

This little guy thought he was the funny man during our appointment.  I don't know if it was because his voice echoed in the room or what but he was so chatty and squealing.  He totally knows he's cute!  Thankfully he quieted down during the appointment so I could hear the doctor.

Overall we got a great report for Ryan!  We talked a lot about potty training.  He said it's basically a controlling thing with him and I just need to be patient and keep prompting him to sit on the potty.  He said he will get to the point where he wants to be a big boy and do big boy things.  

 We came home and played in the water.  Ryan had a blast playing in his new water table and Colton loved his new little pool.  

Father's Day 2012

 I want to give a big shout out to my sweet daddy.  I am a total daddy's girl and love my dad so much.  He is the most giving and patient person i've ever met.  Thank you dad for always being there and always being the best dad and now the best granddad!  

  The three most handsome men!

Father's day was great this year.  Matt and I didn't get each other anything for mother's day or father's day besides a card.  I know, it sounds pitiful.  I told Matt I just want a manicure, pedicure and message really soon and he wants a massage so we will schedule those soon.  

Think this is my favorite picture of Matt and Colton to date!

We started the day with church then came home for lunch and naps. 

The boys got up from their naps and I was getting everything ready to head to the in-laws for dinner.  I took the dogs out and Annabelle took off running after a neighbor kid going through our backyard (we don't have a fence, just an invisible fence for the dogs).  I ran after her, with Colton on my hip, but I didn't see where she went.  Finally after 20 minutes I found her two doors down just chilling in the neighbors yard!  ARGGGG!  Sometimes I think the dogs are more work than the kids.  

When I finally came back in I found Ryan in the pool on the deck! Awesome!  He was dressed and ready to go.  Oh well, that's life right.  Just had to laugh at that point. 

 We finally made it to Papou and Yaya's house.  Colton spending time with Papou.  

 Ryan blowing bubbles!  He puts his mouth right on the wand even after we tell him to hold it out and blow.  

 Papou helping

 We had a delicious dinner and great fellowship with family.  The boys did great and were well behaved.  It was a good time and we were glad to celebrate all the dads in our life.