One Lucky Mama

Even though Mother's Day is pretty Hallmark, there's always good reason to honor your mom. Especially if you happen to be lucky like Mike and myself with mothers who have given you way more than you can possibly express in a card or a gift. It wasn't until I became a mother that I realized how damn challenging (and rewarding) this role would be!

I feel fortunate that I've got a kiddo to celebrate Mother's Day with. He drives me nuts, he's a wild, crazy, mini teenager in a three year old's body but he gives me the sweetest kisses, big hugs, and tells me stories that make me laugh. He greeted me with a bouquet of flowers and "Happy Mother's Day" in his cute little voice.

I've also got a supportive husband who appreciates me and also gave me a nice break for Mother's Day. Mike surprised me with an hour massage appointment which left me feeling high. My tense, strained muscles from running and hauling a heavy kid so appreciated it.

Thank you to all the moms out there (especially ours) who help your kids grow up and learn to fly.

Arrr Mateys

Collin is obsessed with pirates.

Obsessed.

"Is it scary?"

"Is it a pirate ship?"

These are two of his most used phrases. Skeletons, ships, anything nautical is somehow associated with a pirate. Then of course there's his signature greeting (to kids he just meets at the playground, to checkers in the grocery store, to anyone who says hi)--"Skull and crossbones!" Followed by a flash of his arms criss crossed across his chest like some sort of preschool gang sign.

I will admit, it's pretty cute though. Sure I have a morbid kid. At OMSI, the science museum, he could stare for hours at the real live skeleton behind glass or put the puzzle pieces of a skeleton together. I'd like to think that maybe all this attractiveness to skeletons means that one day he'll follow the path of science, pathology, medicine...

Or who knows. In a few months he may latch onto a new obsession. But for now, I'll enjoy my honorary pirate.

And when we found out real life pirate ships, that were used in the Pirates of the Caribbean movie were a little over an hour away in Rainier, Mike convinced me that we had to go first thing to show Collin.

Nona and Papa came too and we all got to tour the pirate ships with real life pirates! Okay the ships were actually replica pirate ships used in the movies with 20 something year old pirates but they were sorta dressed in period garb. It was pretty cool. We didn't get to hang around for the mock battle or the three hour sailing adventure, but the free walk-on tour definitely intrigued Collin.

Par-tay!

Collin is one lucky boy. For his third birthday party we went to the historic Belmont Firehouse to celebrate with his buddies. The Firehouse isn't an active fire station so we wouldn't have to worry about an impromptu emergency that would leave us stranded. Fireman Don led us on an official tour. It's technically a museum and a place for the community to learn about fire safety.



There's a mock firetruck for kids to play on, fire gear, and the highlight definitely being the pole.





And a big video screen to provide some distracting entertainment while we set up the pizza and cupcakes.






Collin blew out his candle with some help from Dad and no fires were started...Success! Then everyone enjoyed yummy cupcakes and got their firefighter hats and goodie bags. And balloons of course!

The next day, Collin got a second celebration with family (both grandparents and Uncle Devin).

He had a blast, opening more presents!

One of his newest obsessions is pirates and Uncle Devin got him a pirate chest complete with "doubloons," an eye patch and a pirate flag, much to Collin's excitement.

And he got to blow out another candle! Birthdays would be everyday in Collin's world.

One, two, THREE, oh my!

Three feels like such a big difference from two and milestones away from one. At two Collin started to communicate more but closer to three, it was a whole new world. He really is a little boy and less a toddler, most certainly not a baby.

Gone are the long blond curls, the delicious chunky legs, and the constantly falling and running into things. Now his hair is an ash brown, the baby fat thinned down and he's looking like a mini man. He's got never ending energy and loves to "fly" with help from a big person, run, jump and explore.

Collin has a wide vocab and is clear most of the time when you talk to him. We continue to monitor his hearing but nothing has changed. He still has limited hearing in his left ear, still has trouble localizing sound and if he's in a loud environment, may get frustrated but for the most part, communication wise he is on track. He is also opinionated, stubborn and bright.

He can be shy and likes to evaluate the situation before diving in but after he warms up will start playing with anyone. He doesn't take much crap (meaning if a kid shoves him, he'll shove him right back) but we have to watch out for him bullying--notes from school where he had trouble being gentle with his friends or sharing.

He's entered the world of make-believe and likes to pretend he's a kitty or a dog, he can chat endlessly to Blue and has a full range of sound effects for his cars and Playmobil people. He seems to love school especially art projects, and is moving into the preschool class from toddlers on Monday where it'll be more "school readiness" focused. I think he's ready for something a little more challenging.

He's also in the never ending question phase. Not so much "why," but "What's this?" Reading a book can involve at least three "What's this?" per page. I know he's trying to soak in the world around him and learn but this phase is also really annoying. I do try to explain what stuff is if it's new but when he points out the obvious, I try to turn it around and ask him what he thinks, or I just ignore it.

Collin can sort of brush his teeth (he likes the spitting part). He has been potty trained for a while now--standing up too. He is still in a pull-up at night though. He's starting to wipe himself (TMI) although this isn't necessarily a good thing... He can get dressed by himself as long as a buttons and zippers aren't involved.

Negotiations between, "If you clean this mess, then you can watch TV or get a cookie," have been none to occur. We are definitely entering the bargain stage and he is a master manipulator. Collin is capable of a lot of things so even if it's easier for me to do it, I have to remember to let him try and be patient as he learns (or not let my OCD side come over if all the books on his shelf aren't straight or his clothes are shoved in his drawer).

Some of his current faves:
*Pirates: "Scull and crossbones! Arh matey!" He also likes monsters and hearing "scary" stories. We have a morbid one.
*Anything transportation related is still a hit: Cars, trucks, trains, planes
*Spending time with his friends and family
*Books
*Swimming: He's getting a lot more confident and jumps in the water now without hesitation, wears his goggles and is starting to do the back stroke and slowly learning the crawl stroke (or "wheels on the bus" as his teacher says). He also loves the lollipop he gets after class and going to "Postco" or Costco, afterward which is just up the street. I figured out "Postco" to Collin is synonymous with samples. He'll toss aside his lollipop for a piece of buttered bread, a granola bar bite, or pasta while wandering the aisles.
*Building and helping dad with his tools. Future engineer maybe! His hand eye coordination is still stellar, he can figure out how to put together stuff that I have problems with. I'm sure in a few years Collin will be fixing stuff for me.
*Bath time: Along with swimming, he loves playing in the water with all his toys. He'll stay until his skin is wrinkled and the water is almost cold.
*TV: Yep this is one I should be proud of, but 25 minutes of "Jake and the Neverland Pirates" or "Elmo's World" are still a sanity saver when I need to take a work call or a shower.

Food wise, he loves mostly typical kid stuff: Pasta with cheese, "Chicken nuggets" which are really fake chicken (Boca) nuggets, pepperoni pizza, beans, oatmeal, yogurt, fruit, bacon, chicken and ham. Gone are the days of eating lots of veggies. Hopefully he'll break out and become a little more experimental. I keep trying to expose him to different kinds of food but getting past the whining cries of "I'm hungry," every five minutes or "I'm all done," after he has two bites are a challenge. At least I know at school (three days a week), he eats really healthy, all vegetarian, and nothing processed. And according to the daily reports he takes home, he eats a lot of it (stuff like quinoa, whole wheat muffins, unsweetened yogurt...He would most likely give me a look like mom why are you feeding me this at home).

As difficult as it can be living with a mini dictator, I love Collin and appreciate all the lessons he has taught me on life and being a parent. It's hard to believe three years ago he was lying next to me in a hospital bed and now he is sound asleep in his big boy bed, dreaming and ready to take on the world.

Happy Birthday Collin!

Swim, swim

Collin has been going to Dolfun Swim Academy since the summer. These are not community classes that usually consist of singing and splashing around in the pool with other kids and parents without any real skills taught(except maybe blowing bubbles). There's nothing wrong with those classes, we did them and found them fun and a nice way to introduce your kid to the water. But I wanted something that would actually teach Collin the skill of swimming.

I'm not the strongest swimmer--I can do the crawl and the basics but diving kind of freaks me out. So I learned about Dolfun and was a little worried because Collin was actually "old." They start with babies as young as one month to introduce them to the water and it involves dunking then in and out. May sound crazy but there were 2 year olds in Collin's class jumping in without hesitation and swimming by themselves. I watched a kid of about four in the next class swim like a fish.

We had our ups and downs. Collin made progress but would not grasp the concept that opening your mouth and swallowing water is not a good idea. He started getting more comfortable and having fun with his buddy Stellan. But then something happened and he suddenly became a barnacle. He clung to me for about a month in our once a week classes. I started dreading it and wondered if I was crazy for shelling out a bunch of money. But the teacher Diana is wonderful and told me it was normal. Kids went through phases and he was most likely "acting out" for me. When he swam with her he was fine.

About three weeks ago the parents started rotating out of the pool while Diana worked with the kids by themselves. Collin was definitely not as advanced as the other kids who are all able to practically paddle across the pool without help.

The first week I sat on the sidelines while Collin was with Diana, it was a scream fest. Collin aka. Mr. Dramatic screamed and screamed and looked at me with betrayal. He tried to escape the pool and run over to me several times. I give him waves of encouragement but it's hard to see your kid like that. He wailed for the whole 30 minutes of class and by the time class was up he was snotty, whimpering and red faced. I felt terrible.

Then, a magic thing happened. The next week I talked to Collin about how he would be alone with Teacher Diana in the pool while I watched him, and that if he cried I would have to walk outside. It was like he flipped a switch because this time he was a completely different kid. It may have also helped that the class was divided into two sessions and now Collin only had two other kids with him. He laughed, he eagerly jumped, he let Diana pour water over him. And then of course there was the highlight of the class. A lollipop after he was all showered and dressed.

Next week, same thing. Except this time the other kids were absent so Collin got a private lesson. And I had my camera handy.

From Winter 2010-2011

He still doesn't quite understand holding your breath but this week he actually wanted to wear his goggles. (Before it was torture trying to put them over his head).







He was giddy, he loved floating on his back and went under water to grab toys. And while he's not quite at the level as the other kids he has made huge strives from when we started. I'm excited to see him learn how to be in the water and enjoy himself (preferably while staying afloat!) Maybe he'll have a lifelong joy of swimming, or uh be the next Michael Phelps. At the very least I'm confident we'll be able to go on vacations and take him in the water without feeling too paranoid.

New Year's Resolution: Update this blog more

2011 wow it sounds so futuristic. It's been a busy year. Collin has grown into a rambunctious, talkative, gregarious boy. Not baby. A hybrid toddler, a near preschooler. Three in just a few months!



He has been in big boy underpants for nearly a month without any accidents for a while. Actually telling us when he has to pee was a huge milestone. Poop is another story. We try to bribe him with chocolate kisses but who wouldn't want to just let it all go in a pull-up when your parents can wipe your ass? Still it's pretty nice not to have to buy economy sized packages of diapers anymore. He's getting better about using big toilets in public places but it's not like he can just take down his pants without any help. I'm looking forward to those days...

He loves to hear stories about monsters and pirates and I wonder if we could have anymore of a BOY. Trucks, building things, the movie Cars, his tool set, Blue and his other stuffed animal friends are some of his favorite things. I love watching him enter a new world when he uses his imagination. He cooks soup, drinks coffee, fights pirates and goes on adventures with Blue. He is dramatic as ever and considering one of his favorite things to do at the Children's Museum is bounce around the stage I think he might do well in theater classes when he's a little older. He's in swimming lessons with his buddy Stellan and moms and dads will be out of the pool this next session.

New Year's Eve was quiet but nice. I watched Toy Story 3 with Collin and then Mike and I made ourselves a gourmet dinner complete with chocolate ecstasy from a local dessert shop. We barely made it to midnight. A little pathetic but the days of clubbing and staying out until 3 am complete with a hangover the next day are pretty much over. Not to mention I'm an easy drunk these days. Give me a couple glasses of wine and I'm good. Not that I'm never guilty of overindulgence...

Mike and I pledged to a ban of alcohol, junk food and sweets for January to start the year off right. Except dark chocolate. Because antioxidants don't count.

We also started a kitchen remodel on January 1st! Through a connection from Mike's work we got an awesome deal for an installation of new cabinets (including a pantry woohoo) and counter tops. Goodbye ugly laminate cabinets, goodbye outdated ceramic tile counter top and we bid adieu to you cheap looking white track lights. It won't make our pint sized kitchen any larger but it will add cabinets and counter tops which are essential when you like to cook as much as we do. Not to mention maple and granite will help the space aesthetically. In the meantime any prep work for cooking is done in our living room and the only place we can wash dishes is our pedestal bathroom sink. Meaning we'll be eating a lot of take-out in the next week. But it's a quick project and since our appliances were already pretty new and updated we don't have to worry about that part at least.

Next up will be refinishing the fir floors including ripping out the hideous carpet in the dining room. The house has been an ongoing project since we bought it five years ago and I will say it again (never buying another fixer!) But seeing the changes and getting to enjoy them for a little bit, whether it's months or another year before we sell, are definitely worthwhile. And it adds value.

I'm looking forward to posting the before and after shots of the kitchen when it's complete!

Christmas

Christmas with Collin was a little more exciting this year as he could kind of understand the whole Santa concept (Santa = candy). He also didn't once try to tear down the tree or pull off all the ornaments. He even left the wrapped gifts under the tree alone. The lights were probably his favorite part.

"Dada made the lights," he repeated over and over at the impressive light display Mike put up.

He also had fun decorating and of course turning on the Christmas tree lights.



I took Collin to the mall for his first Santa shot. After a 20 minute wait in line he sat perfectly stoic on Santa's lap while the photographer tried to entice him to smile by waving and making faces. Nothing. But at least he didn't scream. Though truthfully I find the pictures where the kid is shrieking more memorable than a smile. He got his lollipop and for a ripoff $22 I got three 5x7's.

Collin met Santa again on the holiday express train ride we went on by Oaks Park with Nona and Papa. The trains were decked out in lights and it was pretty cute, though not the most impressive view. This time Santa gave Collin a candy cane. And I have to say this Santa looks a little freaky so I couldn't blame him for not smiling.



We hosted a pre Christmas appetizer party for family on the 23rd and poor Mike painted our whole living room the day before, finishing late at night (must say the new gray blue color makes the room seem bigger and lighter).

Christmas morning Collin eagerly ripped open all his presents and tried to open ours. The biggest hit of the day was the helicopter Mike got from his parents. When the helicopter takes off Collin erupts in squeals and laughter. And I must admit it is very cool.







All the presents and craziness of the morning proved to be a little much for Collin


We took the helicopter later on to my parents house for Christmas dinner and it was met with a consensus of awesomeness. (Both my mom and brother ordered one so let the helicopter wars commence!). It was nice to spend time with my aunt Sherry and cousin Olivia and Collin got to open up even more gifts.