Colin's First Christmas in Pictures

The last two pictures were taken at Mema and Papa's house (my in-laws). As you can see, Colin was very good this year! Unfortunately, though, he couldn't enjoy it to the fullest because he was sick. We took him to the pediatrician this morning and he was diagnosed with an ear infection and bronchiolitis. He's on an antibiotic and an albuterol inhaler (given through a chamber with a mask) to help clear everything up. Poor kid. He really was a trooper, though. Check out what he did on Christmas day for the very first time!

I hope you've had a wonderful holiday season, dear reader! The best part is, it isn't over yet! My parents, sister, sister's friend and grandma will be here tomorrow afternoon and they'll be staying until New Year's Day. I can't wait to see them, and for them to see how big my Colin has gotten. More to come!

Reindeer Cookies

Pre-baby, I used to love to bake. I still enjoy it, but now it just seems like such a hassle. It's messy, it requires time and energy, and it's not so easy to do with a fast-paced 11 month old hanging off your leg. I was browsing Pinterest one day and came across this awesome recipe for adorable reindeer cookies. I bought some peanut butter, pretzels (plain, though- couldn't find the chocolate covered ones) and M&Ms since I already had the rest of the ingredients on hand. But when it was time to actually make the cookies, suddenly the recipe seemed too complicated. I did a quick google search and came across this recipe. I did a little improvising, though, and used half brown sugar and half white sugar instead of all white. So, here's the Pinterest version:

  

and here's how mine turned out:

I took some to the ladies at daycare as an end-of-the-year thank you, sent some with my hubby to take to his work, and brought a plate for my coworkers, too. Everyone said they were both cute and yummy, and one of the daycare workers asked for the recipe. I'd call that a success. Mix together two things I love - Pinterest and peanut butter - and you can't go wrong! Merry Christmas. :)

11 Months

At 11 months old, Colin... 

• Weighs about 25.5 lbs and is a little over 31 inches tall
• Is a crawling pro and can pull up to standing with ease
• Has started "cruising" along the furniture and walls
• Has said "mama," "dada," "uh oh," and "gog" (dog), but not consistently
• Absolutely loves Special Agent Oso
• Still cries sometimes when Mommy drops him off at daycare
• Takes two naps each day, one in the morning and one in the afternoon
• Sleeps through the night most of the time, but wakes pretty early most mornings
• Is starting to transition from formula to whole cow's milk, and doesn't seem to notice
• Thinks it's hilarious to race us to the kitchen, and giggles when we pick him up
• Gives "kisses" which can sometimes be intense and violent :)
• Still just has two teeth, on the bottom
• Is starting to love finger foods, but still eats stage 3 baby food too
• Still wants a pacifier when he's sleepy or cranky
• Makes me fall more in love with his silly self every day!

Oh Snap! Wednesday

Because of the craziness of the last week, I haven't gotten the "real" camera out at all. So, today's "Oh Snap! Wednesday" photos are brought to you by my handy dandy iPhone.

Colin hanging out in his Christmas jammies

Standing unassisted!

Rockin' out on his little red guitar. Don't mind the crazy hair.

Colin has been big on toys and playtime lately. He loves to play "soccer" by batting a ball around and chasing it around the living room and down the hallway. He also thinks our dog, Ellie, is hilarious and laughs hysterically when I throw treats to her and she catches them in the air. This is such a fun age. And oh my goodness... he will be ONE in less than five weeks. Holy cow!

More to come.

 

Whirlwind

My flight landed last night around 7, and with that, my whirlwind of a weekend had come to a close. My darling husband was there to meet me at the airport and to drive me home. I was hoping to see my sweet Colin, too, but he had been napping soundly when Justin left the house, so he asked his parents to come over and keep an eye on him for a little while. Luckily, the airport isn't that far away, so we made it home in pretty good time and I finally got to hold my baby boy in my arms. He smiled so big when he saw me, and it melted my heart.

With my brother and sister before the funeral

Grandpa's funeral was beautiful. Uncle Paul gave a great eulogy, and Dad preached a mini-sermon with one of Grandpa's favorite stories- the tale of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego in the furnace. He talked about how the Lord is with us wherever we go, no matter how tough our circumstances are. About how God was with Grandpa during the hard times, and how He worked everything together for His good so that just two people could build a close-knit family of 64. Amazing.

I am so thankful that I got to spend time with loved ones, and to be able to get some closure on Grandpa's death. This weekend was more a celebration of life than a funeral, really, and that's the way it should be. While it was great to be there, though, it's also very nice to be home. I'm glad my boys survived the weekend, but they both seemed to miss me very much while I was gone. And of course, I missed them like crazy, too!


And now that I'm home, it's time to shift my focus to Christmas. It's only 13 days away, people! I don't know about you, but I'm ready to celebrate and get into the Christmas spirit.


More to come.
 

Change of Plans

In about 20 minutes, my brother-in-law will be picking me up to go to the airport. Yesterday, my plans suddenly changed when I was offered a plane ticket by an extremely generous family friend. Justin and I talked it over, and a little after 10 pm last night my ticket was purchased. I will be off the ground at approximately 11:15 this morning, and will land in Michigan around 3 (after a quick stop in Charlotte). I haven't flown by myself in years, and this is the first time I'm leaving my sweet Colin overnight. I know it isn't going to be the easiest thing in the world - for me, and especially for Justin - but we'll all be ok, and I'm so thankful that I'm getting to go to Grandpa's funeral after all. This will be a short trip; I'll be back in SC by 5:30 pm on Sunday. More to come once I'm home again and settled.

 

It's not goodbye, it's see you later

Heaven gained an amazing soul yesterday when George Washington Castle passed away. He went peacefully, surrounded by his wife and seven children. He left behind a legacy of faith and love, and he will be greatly missed by the many, many people he touched in his 79 years on Earth. I love and miss you so much, Grandpa. Thank you for a lifetime of love.