Making New Friends

I have taken a giant leap out of my comfort zone. Last week I decided that I would like to find more people with little boys close to Colin's age. I jumped online to meetup.com and joined a new playgroup. And I went to my first "meetup" yesterday...all alone. This is not something I do. I am shy and usually just makes friends through other friends. But I took some initiative and decided that this is something I would have to do on my own.

The play date yesterday was all the way in Cool Springs at Peek-a-Book Playtown so only one other mom was able to come. Her son is 16 months old so I was very excited that if only one person came at least their kiddo was Colin's age! Colin had a blast! I didn't get to talk much until we sat down for snack because I was chasing him everywhere. He was free to roam and go where ever he wanted and took advantage of that.

We stayed about 1.5 hours and then had a snack and came home. He fell asleep as soon as I started driving (10:45am) and I moved him to his crib when we got home. I had to go wake him up at 1:45 so he could eat a late lunch. I know he would have slept longer but I really didn't want him to skip lunch! He was pooped. And I got some cleaning done. =)

Here are a few pictures.

I use my time wisely

It is safe to say I accomplished everything listed in the previous post. With the exception of repainting the trim. That it is a project that will take an entire day.

Friday during nap time I pressure wash the back patio and the front drive. They look so much better. I wish I had done it sooner!

Then on Saturday I went the the Chiropractor with the boys and after the appt they headed to Hendersonville and I started my day alone. I first went to the GAP where I found my favorite fitting jeans on sale. Not only did they have 30% off everything in the store but they were already marked down to $35. $60 jeans for $24.50? Yes please! I managed to shop and save money. I also ended up buying another shirt...since it was 30% off and all...

Then I visited New York & Co where I found two more shirts and a head band. Then I picked up a new shirt for Andrew and decided I was done. I managed to buy nothing for Colin. I was proud of myself. It is way easier to shop for him when he is with me than shop for myself when he is with me. I shopping trip for fall clothing for him will soon follow.

I can home and re-heated some pizza for lunch then headed out for a car wash and to grocery shop. Once I got back I pulled out all of Colin old clothes and used compression bags to get all of his newborn to 12 mth sized clothes into one Rubbermaid tub. Then I went through my closet and stored anything that didn't fit me anymore.

Then Sunday I made a new cookie recipe (looking for a new one for the cookie exchange) and even got to take a 2 hour nap. Aside from the heat, I had a very good weekend.

Oh! AND - I am pretty sure Colin said "duck!" We downloaded an app on the iPad called Peek-a-boo Barn. It involves animals knocking on the barn and them making noise and a little kids saying the animal's name. I could have sworn he said "duck." Andrew said he heard him say it once the next day but we haven't heard it since...so maybe a fluke.

A day all to myself

Saturday we are getting some new tires put on the Jeep and Andrew is heading up to Hendersonville for the day to get it done and use his Dad's discount. He is taking little man with him so that I have the day to myself. But what do I want to do?

I kind of want to go shopping but a) in recent events of getting to stay home more I am trying to be more frugal and spend less and b) every time I buy something new and I love it it gets a hole in it. Seriously. I washed a shirt for the first time Tuesday and it has a hole. Only my clothing gets destroyed in the laundry. And no, the shirt wasn't from Old Navy and my washer is a nice front loader...so what gives?

Or...I kind of want to pull everything out of my closet and clean it out and I want to pull all of Colin's old clothes and fit them in one big tub. I also want to organize the pantry and repaint all the trim...and pressure wash outside.

Any other suggestions?

Lucy & Ricky, I now understand

Last weekend we traveled to Jasper, AL (where nothing exists) for the wedding of a friend/co-worker of Andrew's. We took Colin to Grandma and Grandpa Coleman's on Saturday morning to sleep over while we stayed in Jasper after the wedding.

I was so excited to get a night of uninterrupted sleep. Don't get me wrong. Colin has been sleeping through the night for a while now, but I always go to bed with the expectation that tonight he could wake up. So I don't always get the restless night of sleep I want b/c I am prepping myself to be woken up suddenly. We even brought our pillows from our own bed...because I can't sleep on hotel pillows. They suck. That is all there is too it.

That excitement wore off at about 3:30am on Sunday morning as I was ready to get back to my own bed. The hotel we were staying in only had Queen beds left. Didn't expect it to be a big deal but I need those extra 12 inches you get in a King sized bed. No way could I get a good night of sleep with someone on top of me. And luckily Andrew felt the exact same way.

It made us remember when we bought our mattress right before we got married and how we couldn't decide if we wanted the Queen or if we should just get the King, so we didn't regret it. I am so glad we splurged. My bed may be a monstrosity and take up half of my bedroom, but I wouldn't trade it for anything.

To sum it up: I would rather be woken up in the middle of the night by an infant while sleeping in a King bed than have to share a Queen bed.

Or follow Lucy and Ricky's lead and take my own bed.

Starting August 16th

I get to start working PART TIME!! I am so excited to be able to spend more time with Colin. August 16th cannot come quickly enough!

Buying ahead

I know some of you do this and I need help if I am going to have a successful go at it. Usually when I buy clothing ahead of time for Colin it is the wrong size. He needs something bigger. Right now he is in 12-18mth clothing. He is 30.5 inches tall and 23.5-24 lbs depending on if he has on clothing when being weighed. What size should I buy for next summer?

Will he grow that much in a year? I am thinking 2T to be safe. What do you experienced mommies think? I am trying to save money here, so buying a size that won't fit will defeat the purpose! Thanks!

Par-tay!

Saturday was Colin's first birthday party! We kept it pretty simple with BBQ and sides, cake, and swimming. All of our in town family was there and even some out of state relatives! Colin was lucky enough to have all four of his Great Grandmas there to celebrate the special day! We also had a few kiddos! We invited a few kids that Colin has spent time with as their mommies have watched him while I was at work so they seem to be recognizable faces for him.

I have a ton of pictures so instead of posting all of them I am including the link to his Year Two book I am working on which kicks off with Colin's birthday and then his party photos. Enjoy!

Year Two Book

Teeth - they really are wearing me out

So we did pretty good cutting the first couple of molars. He wasn't too fussy and I thought this was going to be a breeze!

Well last week he cut two more bottom incisors and started the bottom molars. It is safe to say we now have 9 and 2 halves teeth. I say 2 halves because those molars are so big only one side of them is poking through yet. I think we are on our way to one more half because last night was hell. Andrew said he was just celebrating the same date that one year previously he started his colicky behavior. I assured him it was his mouth because just putting my finger in there to feel them he gave a blood curdling scream. That was what went on all night.

I should have know it was coming because the only time he was happy yesterday was when he got to eat homemade ice cream and when he saw Hallie (I am convinced he has a crush on you, Hallie!). Otherwise he was upset/uncomfortable.

Here is where we stand with the order that he teeth have come in.

And you may be thinking "I couldn't care less when he got what teeth!" So if this post seems random to you just know that I use these as a reference when I go back and fill in baby books, scrapbooks, etc. This is an easy way to journal what happened when!

Happy 1st Birthday, Colin!

Today my baby turns ONE! I am so excited for this day. I am not sad or teary-eyed. I am so excited to say we made it through a YEAR! Some people say it goes by fast, but I am not one of them. This past year has felt so incredibly long. It got faster as we got closer to the one year mark and Colin's personality started budding, but it in no way went as fast as people warned me.

Today we celebrate the good times and the rough times of the past year. I so look forward to year two and seeing Colin change and learn and grow. He is so much fun and I can now say that I wouldn't mind having another one just like him. =) Not anytime soon, but you get the idea.

You know that blog I posted a few days ago? I like that she makes "yearbooks" for her kids. (Yeah, pretty much a scrapbook). She does a digital version so it is bound in a hardback book. I am adopting that for my family. I worked on this in one day so I could have it ordered and delivered in time for Colin's birthday party so people could "sign his yearbook" or write a message in the back.

Colin's Year One Book

It is pretty short and just a collection of some of my favorite pictures of him from the past year. It, unfortunately, in no way has EVERYTHING that happened last year.

I love the digital scrapbook and plan to make his yearbook that way every year. Except I have a feeling they will be huge come the next following years. Since I have a plan, I will be making pages whenever I get a chance with my most current photos of him.

Another plus I found with the digital scrapbook? Grandmas can order there own copy if they wish.

Tonight we will have one of Colin's favorites for dinner (tortellini) followed by a new birthday tradition I plan to start. A trip to Julia's Bakery to pick out a birthday treat.

Happy Birthday baby big boy!