Three Months

My sweet baby Collin, you are growing too fast. Three months already and learning new things each day. Recently you found your hands and you are so close to holding things. If we put something light in your hand you can do it, but not reaching quite yet on your own yet. You rolled over for the first time (belly to back) on June 9, the day before you turned three months. Jack and I were playing with you on the floor and you did it over and over again. You are making little cooing sounds and are very alert. You still love mommy, the swing, milk, and bath. I think you are a very good boy! You still wake up frequently at night to eat (4 oz. every 2-3 hours). You usually take 3 naps per day, but they aren't exactly scheduled yet. Your current nicknames include: Colly, Calls, Callipotomous- and Collin Giraffeee (jack made it up, but for some weird reason it has stuck-so random). Your brother and sister love you so much. Nothing is more fun than seeing them interact with you. Your eyes are still very blue and definitely your feature that people comment on the most. I took you to JC Penny for your 3 month pictures. I've learned over the past 6 years to have low expectations on picture days, but you were perfect. No crying. We were in and out of there in 20 minutes and you looked super cute. I will post them all once I get them. For now, here are a few current shots of you.

Good News

A few weeks ago, Collin went to his surgeon consult with Dr. Gibbs regarding his large umbilical hernia. Currently the hole is 5mm. We won't know for sure until it's size is monitored over the next three months, but the doctor appeared very optimistic that surgery would not be needed. As long as it's getting smaller, he should be okay. He said the real issue is cosmetic because there could be so much extra skin that the belly button just doesn't look right, but I think he will be okay.

2 Months

Happy 2 months little one. You are growing and learning and becoming sweeter with each passing day. I love you so much and want to keep you this tiny forever. You currently love being with Mommy, baths, tummy time, your swing, eating, and being entertained by Hannah and Jack. You do not like diaper changes or being left alone. You are starting to make sweet little sounds. You will smile, but make us work pretty hard for it. This month we have been working on getting three regular naps as opposed to dosing off whenever and also getting used to napping in your big crib. You actually seem to like your big bed particularly staring at the mobile. You will nap in there for about 45 minutes. You still have your big blue eyes and are ever so slowly getting a tiny amount of hair. We had your two month check up at our new pediatrician office yesterday. Mommy is trying to simplify life and I've been slowly changing all of our doctors to be closer to home. I really liked the new doctor (Dr. Tang) and his office. You did wonderful with your shots and barely cried then fell asleep immediately after. You are still my smallest baby at the two month mark weighing in at 11 1/2 lbs. (50%) and 22 inches (25%). I'm slightly confused by the next stat. Your head circumference is 38 cm. which they said is above the 99%. Not only that, but it is "so large" we have to come back every 4 weeks to measure it to make sure it is okay. I went home and looked at Hannah and Jack's records. Hannah's head at two months was exactly the same size 38 cm only her doctor wrote 50%. Jack's was actually larger at 40cm and the doctor called it 80%. You can see my confusion. I called the doctor this morning and shared the information I had found and asked for them to re check their chart to make sure there was not an error. They did and once again confirmed it is greater than the 99%. I am still left confused. All of my kids have large heads, but to be honest, just by looking I've always thought my Jack was the one with the giant head not Collin. Overall Collin is growing great. The doctor said he was very impressed with how strong he was and his ability to maintain head control. The doctor did hear a heart murmur which to a doctor "is very typical in babies," but to me is a very scary red flag for future heart problems like dad. I pray everyday that Hannah, Jack and Collin avoid the health issues Tim endures. One last somewhat concerning thing is that Collin has a very large umbilical hernia. These are fairly common and typically go away on their own, but Collin's is so abnormally large that he is sending him to a surgeon for a consult. That appointment is scheduled for later this month. It doesn't hurt him in anyway, but basically the intestines move in and out of it because the hole never closed. It is very large and it makes me feel sad. Sometimes I think you've gone potty, but really it's just the sound of the intestines moving in and out. Very very strange. You eat 4 oz every 3 hours and still wake up every 3 hours at night. You are a very good boy and I am so grateful to be your mommy. I think you are perfect little one and I love you very much.

Jesus Loves You

Today my little one was baptized at St. John's church in Orange. It's the same church Tim and I were married and where Hannah and Jack were baptized as well. I love how we have all stood in the same spot on important days in our lives. Both Hannah and Jack's baptismal days had some issue that caused stressed. Tim and I have made the comment that Satan might try anything to keep you from walking alongside Jesus. At Hannah's, she had an explosion of bright yellow all over her white dress minutes before the church service was beginning. On the morning of Jack's, Tim broke the sink faucet and water would not stop spraying all over our kitchen. Hannah also woke up sick that day. So leading up to today we were prepared. We were taking guesses what might happen. Fortunately nothing huge, but it did rain. Here's the amazing thing. Driving home, a beautiful rainbow filled the sky, reminding me of God's love and promise to us. A reminder that he is all powerful and has a perfect future planned out for each and every one of us. A future that includes a rainbow after every storm we may be faced with. I hope Collin always trusts in the Lord and turns to him with thanks in the good times and prayers in the storms and remember that his rainbow awaits.

Collin was so great during the service. Like most parents do during a baby baptism, I said a prayer he'd fall asleep. Well, that didn't happen. He was wide awake the whole time which made me nervous because I didn't want him to cry, but he was perfect, looking right at the pastor with his big blue eyes. Auntie Katie and Uncle Jeff are his God Parents and I have peace knowing they will pray for him and help guide him in his faith, all while being the fun loving auntie and uncle they are. Collin wore the same outfit that Tim wore 34 years ago and that Big Brother Jack wore 3 years ago. He looked so cute. After the service we celebrated with the whole group at Mimi's cafe. It was a wonderful day and my heart is full.




Who's Who?

First Smile

You know you're a mom when time just won't slow down. My best friends and I are talking about planning a 20 year friend-iversary next summer. 20 YEARS! I can honestly say I feel like I just met them at cheer try outs. Glitter eye shadow, blue nail polish, begging for sleep overs, talking about boys, trading pager numbers (yes pagers) what can I say...we were kinda a big deal. And now we are all moms, still a big deal just to different people...more important people- our sweet babies. And Collin while six weeks may seem like nothing, to me you have already grown and changed so much. I wish you back to that little 7 lb. one day old already because I fear I'll close my eyes and 20 more years will have passed. I constantly find myself asking for peace in the moment so I can just take simple mental snapshots in time. Snapshots of Hannah caring for you, Jack running around the backyard with his underwear on backwards, and you looking up at me so innocently. There is this moment each day that is the best 60 seconds of my day. If you sleep in too long you miss it and enter straight into chaos. In the morning right before the day starts there is about 30 seconds where I open my eyes and I have all 3 of my babies asleep snuggled in next me. Everything is quiet and the suns not quite up yet. It's a moment right before the "I need breakfast," "Hannah grab your bag we are going to be late," baby is crying moment and it is the best!

Anyway I digress, back to the point of this post. Collin you are smiling! you started right at 6 weeks, but it took me a few days to capture a picture. Hannah made silly noises while I grabbed the camera. My greatest hope for you in life is just for you to be happy so these smiles are the best. Whatever you do/believe/become etc I love you and hope you always keep smiling. Also in the works, as I sit here typing you are taking your first nap in your big crib. I thought it was a little early, but you're such a good boy I figured I'd give it a try and to my surprise, 21 minutes in and I haven't heard a peep. I am hoping this is the start to a schedule. More to come on that after I see how it goes.

Happy Easter

Happy Easter Sweet Collin. The first holiday your child celebrates is always a special one. We had such a fun day. Your brother and sister woke up at 6am ready to hunt for eggs. They were so excited to see that the ridiculously large plate of carrots, lettuce and grass that they left for the bunny was eaten. In an attempt to save the neighbors from an early wake up call we held them off with a cinnamon roll breakfast. You of course enjoyed your milk. Jack told you you could have "extra milky" since it was a special day. Brother and sister then headed out back to find their eggs from the bunny. Together we built the annual puzzle to get our clue to the baskets and they were hiding in your crib! After baskets we went to church and then off to Granny's house for more egg hunts, gifts, lunch, fun, and love. Granny made the traditional bunny cake which was bigger than you. I cant imagine next Easter you may be walking and looking for eggs with your siblings. I love you so much Collin James. I hope you always remember that Jesus loves you!

Spring Break

I was really looking forward to spring break this year. We didn't have anything major planned, but I thought it would be nice to just have a calm week with no where particular to be. We planned something each day with the kids that I thought I could manage with 3. They decorated Easter cookies, went swimming, played at the park, went to two different Easter carnivals (pony rides/face paint/bounce houses), met the bunny, dyed eggs and took a trip to the Natural History Museum in LA. Jack loves dinosaurs so I was excited to show him the dinosaur exhibits and to my surprise the kids loved everything there. They didn't want to leave. Everywhere we go Collin is so amazing and easy. He easily travels in the front pouch and still sleeps most of the time. He loves to look at lights and ceiling fans. He enjoys tummy time, baths, and the swing. This week he started spitting up when eating. I knew I didn't want to live through 6 months of that so I decided to do some research. Hannah never spit up and Jack did a ton. I started reading about how big an influence bottle type has on spit up. The more I read, the more it made sense since Hannah's special bottle was operated by us, the nipple was always filled with milk, no air. Long story short, we bought a new bottle that is supposed to be the best at reducing air flow and it's actually working. It's not 100% eliminated, but so much better.