Life Happens

Dear Colin,

You are officially 1.5 years old.  We have celebrated your first Birthday, second Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years, Valentine's Day, St. Patrick's Day, and Easter all without a blog post.  Why have there been no posts?  Because life happens sweetheart.  Your momma has the best of intentions but sometimes you just have to take a deep breath and let certain things go so you can be present in the life that is happening in front of you.  I decided that blogging had to take a step back so that I could be present in your life, witness and soak in all your milestones.  You are our last baby and it was so much more important to Mommy to take part in your accomplishments than to simply be there to document them.  Because of this Colin, someday I might not know the exact moment you did something or whether you did X, Y, or Z first - and I hope and pray that you understand its not because you were loved less ..... in a way your infancy and the end of your first year meant more to me then any other moment in my life.  I hold you longer at night before placing you in your crib, I sneak in and look at you more often than I ever remember doing with Conor.  I'm so afraid that you will grow up while you sleep and I won't be there to see it happen.

Colin, you are smart and coy and so incredibly strong-willed its amazing to watch your personality and strengths be displayed each day.  Your vocabulary is ever expanding but, unlike your brother who is always talking, you prefer to remain quiet until you are comfortable - and when you are the world better watch out!  Everything you say or do is clearly calculated.....its precious to watch and I am so proud to see how bright you are.  Your comprehension of the spoken language is phenomenal.  You have been able to carry out two step directions for several months now (go get your shoes from the closet and bring them to me) without hesitation.  You want to be involved in every activity that goes on in this house.  You want so desperately to be treated as an equal to Conor and you get very angry and upset when you are not.  Precious Boy - I will never understand this desire as I was not blessed with an older sibling.  But please, grow at your own pace.

You eat so many different things.  You love soy beans, avocado sushi, pasta, pizza, and smoothies.  You keep me on my toes as I try to keep exposing you to different foods.  You prefer to drink out of a regular cup but the amount of water in it as to be a sip or two's worth or it ends up everywhere - but you are learning and trying.

You are a very physical child.  You love to splash and play in the water, you love being outside and will bring your boots to us and say "go" and point to the door several times a day.  You bring your own diapers to the trash, your own clothes to the hamper, and you try to wash your high chair tray and the walls with wipes.  You run, jump, kick and toss balls.  You LOVE to swing.

But then there is the sweet side of you.  My baby you will always be.  You often ask for milk and will want to cuddle up in my lap with a blanket.  When you are tired you convey it immediately by asking to climb the stairs.  You turn on your own sound machine and climb into the rocker.  You do not allow me to deviate from our routine at all.  I truly think you enjoy our moments before nap and bed.  I enjoy them too my sweet boy.  You still run from me when you see a wrap or carrier but once you are up you bury your beautiful little body into mine and you are typically content for a long time.  You still fall asleep in them when you are very tired....the last time was when we were all out as a family and you just couldn't make it any longer.  Feeling you sleep on me is one of my most favorite things and I hope you don't outgrow it too soon.  You love to blow kisses anytime Daddy or I leave or say goodnight.  You give great big bear hugs and you have the most adorable way of putting your hands to our cheeks to direct our heads to you when you want our attention and you are in our lap.

You and Conor are simply the best of friends.  You play together and he looks out for you as much as you look up to him.  Both of you prefer to have the other in the car and will comment on the empty carseat next to you.  He often calls you "my little buddy."  You have shared a room two nights now and the first went really well but the second was a little tough.  I have a feeling this summer there will be many more nights of shared sleeping as you both seem to want to be together all the time.  I hope you continue to be the best of friends as you grow.

So my little man, in short - life happens and we aren't always there to blog about it - but every moment of every day spent watching you grow and being in the moment with you is worth more to me in memories than blog posts will ever be.

I love you my Baby C.

xoxo
Mommy