Our Texas trip 2014

(Airplane selfies)

So we just returned from Texas. Why is it that vacation goes so quickly and the normal grind goes by so slowly?? 

We arrived Tuesday and got to pick up my sister in laws from school. Colin was so excited to see and play with his aunties! Wednesday and Friday and Saturday I went to the outlet mall! (Don't judge) it's a good thing I don't live near outlets... 

I had a gift card from Christmas to the coach store... So that was my first stop. 

Then I headed to the stride rite outlet to buy Colin some shoes. I've never gotten his feet measured before so that was fun! I just adore stride right shoes and sperrys, for Colin. Not for me! He is a size 7 right now.

Colin was done shopping that first day. As in he didn't want to sit in his stroller and just pushed it around and refused to push it in any of the stores. Hence why we had to come back.

The next day we went I hit up my favorite store, New York and Company. They actually had some shorts on clearance so along with shirts that I love (and can wear with my leggings) I bought an adorable pair of shorts that were on clearance!  My step mil needed to go and return some things so we went back the next day. I shopped at the American eagle outlet... But only bought stuff for my sister in laws and then the under armor store and bought a much needed new sports bra!  It's safe to say it isn't a no spend month! But next month maybe! Ha ha! 

Ryan's sisters are so grown up. We love spending time with them and seeing them grow into beautiful and smart young women as opposed to the little girls who they were when I met Ryan and who were in our wedding. 

They are such good aunties to Colin and I really loved all the free babysitting! Ha ha! I soo wish they lived closer! 

We basically just hung out besides my shopping. Went swimming one day, went to the park twice but stayed home a lot just enjoying the company. 

Colin's favorite thing was the piano they have at their house and he played it everyday... That and their puppy! He had fun chasing the puppy around! 

So sad to leave! :( 

January Photoshoot

So it has been warm. Like crazy stupid warm. I want winter darn it! But anyway since it was 50 degrees today we went and played outside. One thing I decided I wanted to do this year is learn my camera a bit better. I've had what I refer to as my "fancy" camera for 3 years. And I've mostly shot in auto. Sad but true. There are some instances where the camera isn't happy in auto. For example, snow, darkness and I also like to shoot sun beams in my scenery shots and it really doesn't like that. SO.. I've had to dabble in manual mode. I decided this year I will really try to learn more about manual mode.  Today was day one.  While Colin was playing I ran around taking pictures of my favorite subject. Changing settings when he went from the shade to the sunlight. I shot for an entire hour in manual mode. Winning. I know I have a long way to go and I in no means intend to be a professional... I just really want to learn my camera better and be able to take nice pictures even when it is snowing/sunny or dark out, especially for my job at the newspaper. :)

2 Words: Juan Pablo

Anybody else loving The Bachelor this season? Aye! Between his accent and soccer ball... He has me sold! I'm drinking a glass of wine and watching tonight's episode while my boys are both asleep. Don't judge... Some days you just need a little release from the world.  My child has decided he doesn't need naps anymore and some days that drives me to drinking! Lol (not really... First drink since New Years!)  But you know. I miss naps and that quiet time where you can regain sanity and nap or clean or something that makes you or your house seem normal. However no naps means longer stretches of sleep at night... So take the good with the bad. Or bad with the good. Too much wine? Ha ha! Ok I'm out! Almost at the rose ceremony! Have to focus! Lol

Colin Ryan, 26 Months, Singing and Sentences

I've noticed a very significant change in my little boy. He is growing up. It seemed like just in the past month or two he has grown up before my eyes. He is talking so much more which I think plays a bit part of his growing up.

New things Colin does:

SINGING!  All of a sudden Colin LOVES to sing. First he was just singing gibberish and now he is really trying to sing actual songs. His favorites are Wheels on the bus and Row Row Row your boat. He was playing with his legos tonight singing, "Wheels Round and Round All Through Town. Daddy I Love you, Mommy Shhh, Baby Waa waa All through Town" So cool to see him sing. He also loves to pretend to play the guitar while he sings and has his own song... he sings "All the Why" over and over in different tones.

We go to the Childrens Museum and a Music Class weekly and he is finally participating more! He would get distracted at the museum and want to go play as opposed to participating, but the past few weeks not only has he participated, but he sings and laughs at the books and songs, which is totally cute.  He also used to cry at his music class when we did the parachute (Don't ask me why... parachutes are soo cool, even I love it) and he would be super shy and not talk at all, but it seems like as soon as he turned two that changed. He now plays and sings there too.

For the longest time the ONLY number Colin knew was 3. He'd hold up 1 finger and say he was 3 . All of his cars and trucks and he would tell me, 3 trucks! I've counted things millions of times and it has always been 3. Then one day... he got the number 2! So we've added another number to his repertoire and it just so happens to be how old he is. And he can now hold up 2 fingers when he says 2. I feel like this isn't that exciting because I've seen kids his age count very high... but for us... it is because he has always only said 3!

He also also learned some new letters. He used to only say, O and I.  In fact he calls pens or pencils  O,Is. Don't ask me...  But he just learned some new letters. D, M, B, P and W. He can even pick out O, I, M and B from a lineup. And when he sings his A, B, Cs...another favorite... he will say all the letters he knows... D, O,I, M, B,P, W.... me!!

He also learned some new colors. For the longest time only said Purple... quite possibly one of the hardest ones to say... but that was his color. He can now say, Blue, Brown and Yellow. I about fell over the other day when he picked up a ball at this bounce place and told me it was a Yellow ball!

He says 3-4 word sentences at the very least and sometimes more. Mommy Help with the ____ is something I hear a lot.

Everyday he says new words. "Mommy, sky" as he points up at the park the other day. Sky was a new word. Up High or Jump High are new things he's been saying and instead of No he now says No way! Ha ha! Colin put your toys away... No Way Mommy! Yeah.. fun! Ha ha!

This kid is my world and I'm so lucky to be his mommy. He keeps me on my toes that is for sure.  I don't know what life was like before him! Can't wait for this next year and all the new and fun things he will learn. Think I will try for a photo shoot with him soon!

Recap

So I realize I've been a blogging slacker and I apologize. 

I'm just in a blogging slump I suppose. Plus I don't have much to write about here is a quick recap:

Nothing really new and exciting here. Ryan is working, I am writing articles and wrangling a 2 year old. Colin is talking up a storm and still not sleeping through the night. You know, same old same! Ha ha!

We are planning a trip to Texas in a few weeks. Ryan has a work conference there and we are going to tag along for some time with my father in law and sister in laws. I am pretty excited to see them all and to go outlet shopping! Ha ha! 

Our house is still for sale in our old town and hasn't been shown in months... Good ole slow season of real estate. So prayers for that would be appreciated! 

I am planning a baby shower for one of my really good friends in our old town. I'm so excited for her and her hubby! They will welcome a little girl in March! They don't want a traditional shower, but I'm having so much fun getting ideas and making things for it! 

I gained a bunch of weight over the holidays. Colin was cutting molars and not sleeping paired with Ryan having a big work project and no gym time for mommy, equalled me eating lots of Christmas cookies to survive life and get fat. BUT this morning I am down 5 pounds from when we returned from the holidays and feeling great. I've been exercising a lot. Found a Zumba I really like and I've been going 3 times a week and Ryan is doing a running challenge this month so I've ran with him several times and I'm working on toning my midsection which is my problem area. I also really cut back my sugar intake and threw all the Christmas goodies away!! Ha ha!  I haven't been this weight since the summer so that is nice!  But alas Ryan's projects will start up again and I won't be able to go to my zumbas when that happens :(  I was debating on throwing Colin in a carrier and dancing with 26 lbs on my back but I'm not sure he would last an hour in there... But imagine the calories I'd burn!! Ha ha!

I think I will do a Colin update blog soon because it has been awhile and I feel like he has changed so much! 

Hope you are all well! 

Dear new mama

A good friend of mine is going to be a new mother in a few months. I remember those days all too well. The anxiety, nerves and excitement. You really don't know what to expect until you are thrown into it and then you still question your every move because you just don't know. I wish new moms weren't so hard on themselves and could relax and enjoy the short time our babies are little. 

Dear new Mama, 

The first few days and weeks are rough, but they will go by so fast and you will never get them back. I know it is hard, but try to enjoy them. The first sneeze the first yawn the first smiles. They are the first of many things and if you blink you will miss them. 

Try not to worry so much. You are doing everything right. If you are like me you wont realize you knew what you were doing until you no longer have a baby and you've survived into toddlerhood. And everything you worried about was silly and your little baby is all grown up. I wish I would have enjoyed things more and trusted myself more. 

Speaking of trust...Trust yourself and your body. Your body knows how to labor and have a baby and You know how to care for a baby instinctually. Trust those instincts. Your body also knows how to feed your baby. Don't stress about making milk, just nurse, nurse, nurse and your milk will come. You will make the exact amount your baby needs so stop worrying.

Appreciate the simple things and the quiet little moments because soon there will be very few quiet simple moments. Soon they will be running circles around you yelling mom a million times. 

Even as they get older try to appreciate the little things. There will be days and nights where you will be so incredibly frustrated and tired, but appreciate the hugs, smiles and laughing and tell yourself with every trial and tribulation that this too shall pass. For one day our sweet babes will be grown far sooner than we think. Hold onto the precious moments even if at the time they may not seem so precious, they are. 

Christmas wrap up

Hope everyone had a great Christmas!!  We sure did! We went down to visit my parents and Ryan's grandparents. Colin being the first and only grandchild sure got spoiled rotten!  

My favorite part of the trip was watching Colin and his cousin (Ryan's cousins little girl who is 2 months younger than Colin) play together! They chased eachother around for an entre afternoon and it was so fun to watch! I was a slacker at taking pictures this Christmas but I got a few! 

Colin got a bike from Santa and was so excited and Ryan and I got to go out on a date while we were there! One of our first dates this year! Lol